Militarizarization Of Alcadev Lumad Schools.docx

(a) The State shall recognize and promote the rights of ICCs/IPs within the framework of national unity and development; “Militarizarization of ALCADEV Lumad Schools, forced ejectment of Lumad children and Lumad Killings”

What/Who are Lumads? -a term being used to denote a group of indigenous peoples of the southern Philippines. - Cebuano term meaning “native” or “indigenous - 18 Lumad ethnolinguistic groups namely, Atta, Bagobo, Banwaon, B’laan, Bukidnon, Dibabawon, Higaonon, Mamanwa, Mandaya, Manguwangan, Manobo, Mansaka, Subanon, Tagakaolo, Tasaday, Tboli, Teduray, and Ubo

What is an ALCADEV School -Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development -Lumad School in Tandag City, Surigao -an alternative learning system especially designed to provide secondary education to indigent indigenous youth – the Manobo, Banwaon, Higanon, Talaandig, and Mamanwa of Surigao del Norte and Sur and Agusan Norte and Sur

-The youth learn alternative farming not only for individual growth but also for the development of their communities and for reinforcing collective pride and identity as indigenous people capable of taking an active role in shaping the country’s future. -The knowledge and skills acquired from school serve not only their individual growth but also the development of their communities.

(b) The State shall protect the rights of ICCs/IPs to their ancestral domains to ensure their economic, social and cultural well being and shall recognize the applicability of customary laws governing property rights or relations in determining the ownership and extent of ancestral domain; (c) The State shall recognize, respect and protect the rights of ICCs/IPs to preserve and develop their cultures, traditions and institutions. It shall consider these rights in the formulation of national laws and policies; (d) The State shall guarantee that members of the ICCs/IPs regardless of sex, shall equally enjoy the full measure of human rights and freedoms without distinction or discrimination;

(e)The State shall take measures, with the participation of the ICCs/IPs concerned, to protect their rights and guarantee respect for their cultural integrity, and to ensure that members of the ICCs/IPs benefit on an equal footing from the rights and opportunities which national laws and regulations grant to other members of the population; and (f) The State recognizes its obligations to respond to the strong expression of the ICCs/IPs for cultural integrity by assuring maximum ICC/IP participation in the direction of education, health, as well as other services of ICCs/IPs, in order to render such services more responsive to the needs and desires of these communities.

Article 2 (Section 22) 1987 Constitution -The State recognizes and promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities within the framework of national unity and development. Series of Attack to Lumads

The Constitution's Provision and Other Laws that ensures the protection of Lumads -REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8371 ( IPRA LAW)

-Indigenous People's Rights Act Sec. 2 Declaration of State Policies Declaration of State Policies. — The State shall recognize and promote all the rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) hereunder enumerated Within the framework of the Constitution.....

Victims: -EMERITO SAMARCA, 54, married with four children, Executive Director of the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV); he was staff member of ALCADEV since its founding and became executive director in 2012. From 1990-1998, he worked with SILDAP-SIDLAKAN, a Lumad support institution in Caraga. He was also staff of the Unyon sa Mag-uuma sa Agusan del Norte (UMAN) - KMP in the 1980's. -DIONEL CAMPOS, 41, married, resident of Km. 16, Brgy. Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur, Chairperson, Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod (MAPASU or Persevering Struggle for the Next Generation); He is the cousin of

JALANDONI CAMPOS, a Lumad leader who has been falsely charged with criminal offense. -DATU JUVELLO SINZO (earlier reported as Aurello/Bello Sinzo), 69, member of MAPASU and resident of Km. 16, Brgy. Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur. Datu Juvello is tribal chieftain of the village of Kiwagan, Bgy. San Isidro, Lianga, Surigao del Sur.

-About 261 families/1,304 community members and residents of Han-ayan, Km. 16 and 9 other lumad communities in Brgy. Diatagon and Brgy. San Isidro, Lianga, Surigao del Sur; and 304 families /1,354 individuals from three communities in Buhisan, San Agustin; seven communities in two barangays in San Miguel, one community each in Caras-an, Tago and Mahaba, Marihatag, all in Surigao del Sur. 27 Faculty and staff members of ALCADEV and TRIFPSS (Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur)

A Poem Translated to Filipino made by a 12 Year-old Manobo who have witnessed the tragic ALCADEV incident “Sa isang pilik humandusay

mata

ay tatlo

agad ang

Sa bilis ng pangyayari, 'di ko lubos maisip kung ito ba ay tunay Naibaon na sana pakikipaglaban

sa

limot

ang

inyong

Ngunit hinukay 'nyo po uli at naging mitsa sa aming pag-alsa Kinulayan 'nyo ng dugo, gamit ang bandila ng sundalo Tinulak 'nyo kami palayo at gusto 'nyo na tumalikod kami sa gobyerno Kayo ang nagturo na kami po ay lumaban Kayo ang nagsindi sa amin ng himagsikan Hanggang sa huling hininga

-Place of incident : ALCADEV compound in Han-ayan and Km. 16, Brgy. Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur

Kahit sunduin man kami ni kamatayan

-Date of incident around 4 a.m.

( Manilakbayan ng Mindanao 2015)

:

September 1, 2015 at

Aming hiling hustisya at kalayaan

Notes: -Perpetrator/s : Elements of the 36th IB-PA under Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Akas (who turned over command to Lt. Col. Randolph Roxas September 1); Elements of the 75th Infantry Battalion and Special Forces of the Philippine Army; Elements of the paramilitary Magahat/Bagani Forces/Marcos Bocales group identified by eyewitnesses as Bobby Tejero and Loloy Tejero, among 18 others

UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ALREADY KNOWS -United Nations special rapporteur on displaced persons Chaloka Beyani visited the Philippines, upon the invitation of the Philippine government. He was able to meet with Catamco, the military, other government officials and the Lumads.

CONGRESS AND CHR -ACCOUNT OF THE INCIDENT: On August 30, 2015, about 40 soldiers of the 36th Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army (IBPA), the 75th IBPA, AFP 1st Special Forces, and known members of the paramilitary group—who call themselves Magahat-Bagani Forcestayed behind after the event, most of the visitors had already /Marcos Bocales group—occupied the function hall and parts of the school grounds of the Aternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV) in Sitio Han-ayan, Brgy. Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur.

It was the day after the commemoration of the school's Foundation Day. While there were visitors who left.

-Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares and other Makabayan Bloc members have filed a resolution asking asked the House to look into the Lumad killings and plight of Lumads. -Sen. Grace Poe and Sen. Loren Legardahave also filed resolutions in the Senate. -Commission on Human Rights chair Chito Gascon has assailed the killing of ALCADEV chief Samarca and two Lumad leaders in Surigao del Sur.

GROWING OUTRAGE FROM CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS -Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has issued a statement condemning the killings

- NCCP, the organization of mainline Protestant churches, has called on authorities to give justice to the victims -“Abolish the Lumad-killing militias”, thundered the statement from the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines.

GOING INTERNATIONAL -The International Committee of the Red Cross has extended relief aid to evacuees in Tandag City. The New York-based Human Rights Watch has weighed in on the recent spate of killings.