Bicolanos Rally Against Terror of Aquino's Counterinsurgency Campaign

Thousands marched along the streets of Guinobatan, Albay; and  Sorsoganons came together in solidarity with the people of Barcelona; and similar protest action was held in in Bula, Camarines Sur today. These towns represent no less than 20 villages across the region that are currently suffering under the repression of Oplan Bayanihan’s Peace and Development Teams. Today’s protests is spearheaded by Kilusan ng Mamamayan Laban sa Militarisasyon sa Kabikulan (KMLMB), Karapatan Bicol,and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.  The regionwide mobilization is supported by Bicolanos from various sectors, which Concepcion says “highlights the value of collective strength to match up to the military’s armed attack on civilians.”


“February 25 supposedly marks the people’s triumph against Martial Law. But clearly, democracy remains chained as most of Bicol’s rural villages continue to be under the military’s control,” John Concepcion, Karapatan-Bikol Spokesperson said.

The struggle for life and livelihood intensifies today as thousands of Bicolanos mass up to heighten their fight against the deaths and damages that Oplan Bayanihan has inflicted upon the region. As the nation remembers EDSA I uprising, Bicolanos on the other hand will troop to government offices and military camps to demand the pull-out of soldiers from the countrysides, and call for an end to the government’s deadly counter-insurgency campaign.

The human rights organization exposes that under Oplan Bayanihan in Bicol, no less than 37 civilians have been killed by the military, and an immense loss in agricultural produce has been inflicted by the so-called Peace and Development Teams. “Peasants are being suspected of being New People’s Army supporters and are being killed. Farms are neglected because of fear, hence the worsening of livelihoods, because military operations prove deadly to villagers,”  adds Concepcion.

 

 “We hold the Philippine Army’s 9th Infantry Division accountable for these deaths and damages to people’s livelihoods,” asserts Concepcion, adding that apart from these, the military likewise commits a lot more forms of human rights violations. “PDTs are trained in every way to violate rights,” clarifies Concepcion. “They occupy public structures thus endangering civilians, they commit torture, illegal detention and interrogation, they rape and abuse women, and steal crops and animals, among other. Most of all, they kill civilians,” enumerates Concepcion. He further reiterates Karapatan-Bicol’s demands, “These soldiers must be pulled out immediately to avert any further damage to the people!”

As the deadline for Oplan Bayanihan’s Phase 1 draws near this 2013, Karapatan-Bicol cautions the people. “The government will surely step up its barrage of human rights violations. If we do not carry on with our fight against Oplan Bayanihan, government soldiers will continue to murder our loved ones, and continue to deny us of our living.” But Concepcion directs the most formidable of warnings to no less than the commanders of the 9th ID. “Surely, Bicolanos will not cower in the face of Oplan Bayanihan’s brutality. Keep a sharp lookout on the day when the oppressed people will storm your camps and leave you powerless,” ends Concepcion. ### 

People’s leader survives murder attempt by suspected soldiers

Terror strikes most callously in its victims’ joyous moments.

A wedding anniversary is not at all one occasion for death squads to be considerate. On the night of December 5 in San Pablo, Del Gallego, Camarines Sur, as Barangay Captain Angel Mendoza and his wife Helen prepare their repose from a day’s celebration of their 25^th wedding anniversary, a motorcycle stopped outside the Mendozas’ house and a man’s voice called out Kapitan Angel’s name. Thinking that the man was a belated well-wisher, the barangay captain went out to check his visitor. He was instead met by gunshots.

Badly wounded were Kapitan Angel and his wife Helen. The couple’s niece Shirly Magpantay and husband Norman, who happened to be visiting for the occasion, were also hit. According to a report prepared by the Camarines Sur Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace, the bullet that hit Angel on his right arm pierced through his armpit, while Helen suffered a bullet each on her leg and arm, crushing her elbow. The victims were rushed to the Bicol Medical Center in Naga City for treatment.

Neighbors of the Mendozas confirmed having heard the motorcycle speed away at around 11 PM, following the gunshots. They found eight spent bullet casings for a .45 caliber pistol.

While news reports relate that the police are still investigating the incident and have yet to point to suspects, the people of San Pablo have no puzzles on the perpetrators and their motives in attempting to murder their village chief, and in the end almost carrying out a massacre.

Barangay Captain Angel Mendoza is a well-liked fellow and leader. He was San Pablo’s barangay captain from 1984 to 1994, again from 1997 to 2002, and yet again from 2007 up to the present. The people of San Pablo can suggest nothing in Kapitan Angel’s character and performance that would stoke the ire of anyone. Except, they say, when Kapitan Angel stood up for his barrio constituents against the harassment of the 902^nd Infantry Brigade from 2007 to 2009.

The people of San Pablo and its neighboring barangays in Del Gallego have long been committed in advocating the fight for human rights. They have also gained victories in reducing land rent through legal mass struggles, and are active in joining rallies and mobilizations that advance the people’s interests. It was not unexpected of San Pablo and its neighboring barangays to be focused on by the past regime’s Oplan Bantay Laya. Apparently, the military believes that those who righteously fight for the people’s interests, or simply, those who join rallies, are enemies of the State.

From May 2007 until 2009, San Pablo and its neighboring barangays were occupied by the army’s Special Operations Teams. The soldiers started out with campaigning for congressional candidate Dato Arroyo(which caught the media’s eye), then conducting patrols and operations, in the process intimidating the people, most especially those whom the military suspects of being NPA supporters, or rally participants. A military camp would eventually be set up at neighboring Sta. Rita.

This was what Brgy. Captain Angel Mendoza faced up to when in 2007, he chastised soldiers of the 902^nd IBde on their conduct and warned them that no less than the Barangay Council will file charges against any violation of San Pablo people’s rights. Apart from being barangay captain, Mendoza was then BAYAN MUNA Municipal Coordinator for Del Gallego.

Regardless of his stature as a barangay leader, Kapitan Angel was still subjected to various forms of harassment and intimidation. On November 2007, he was made to grasp an M-16 rifle and was photographed against his will. He was also coerced into betraying his constituents and was told to identify those who supposedly are NPA supporters, to which Kapitan Angel strongly stood up against. Then on 2009, together with his cousin and fellow barangay leader Diego de Torres, Kapitan Angel was once again subjected to interrogation by the soldiers and was pressed to “clear” their names of being NPA supporters and active rally participants.

Through the years of Oplan Bantay Laya’s torments, Brgy. Captain Angel Mendoza has not faltered in protecting his constituents and has remained devoted in his principles of fighting for what is just, even as the government’s counter-insurgency campaign has assumed another name in Oplan Bayanihan. The counter-insurgency fanatics may well be maddened by Kapitan Angel’s stance. This may be as infuriating for the 902^nd IBde to have him killed.

Shortly after the interrogation in 2009, San Pablo lost one of their leaders when Diego de Torres was extra-judicially murdered allegedly by elements of the 902^nd IBde. With the recent events threatening to once again put the barrio in martial plague, the people of San Pablo can only conclude that Oplan Bantay Laya’s Palparan model of killing activists is still being employed under Oplan Bayanihan.  But ultimately, as they are fortunate to still having their barangay captain to fight with them, so are the people of San Pablo most sharpened by collective experience forged by years of Kapitan Angel’s leadership.

Beheaded councilman victim of systematic death campaign, says human rights group

(Repost from BicolToday.com/18-Nov.-2012)

By Joey Natividad
Special Correspondent

LEGASPI CITY (BicolToday.com/18-Nov.-2012) – The brutal slay of a village councilman in Guinobatan, this province, was allegedly commited by state security forces to assassinate the victim “under a deceptive ploy of having been killed in a crossfire in an imagined encounter between Army soldiers and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.”

This was the statement by human rights group, KARAPATAN, after concluding its own fact-finding investigation.

Councilman Ely Oguis of Cabaloaon village, Guinobatan town, dead and beheaded, was found by residents early morning of November 12, this year.

That early morning, residents heard several automatic gunfires that was fired by government soldiers for at least one minute near the area where the beheaded body of Councilman Oguis was discovered later. The gunfires were made to appear that “an encounter between Army soldiers and rebels occurred near the area where the dead councilman was found.”

KARAPATAN spokesman Vince Casilihan. informed BicolToday.com that the killing of Oguis was part of a systematic campaign allegedly done by state forces to eliminate leaders of progressive organizations.

The human rights group said Oguis was a member of Albay People’s Organization, a peasant human rights group that is actively campaigning against militarization of mountain villages and launching protests againsts forms of abuses committed by government soldiers.

“Oguis was already target of harassment before, and that on August 21, last year, he sought the help of KARAPATAN after he was harassed by the military several times, and that he was being coerced to admit that he had links with the rebels.” said Casilihan.

The rights group identified the government’s 2nd Infantry Batallion which has jurisdiction over the area where the councilman was found dead as “responsible for the murder”.

KARAPATAN has been documenting and investigation cases of human rights abuses, mostly committed by state forces, for legal action and presentation before the international community of human rights advocates and organizations.

The Philippines has already acquired a negative rating before the international community for the increasing number of human rights violations and abuses committed by state security forces in its campaign to end the 40-year old internal conflict.[BicolToday.com]