Military operations force evacuations in Surigao del Sur; 3 ALCADEV teachers, Belgian visitor harassed

by ISA LORENZO

Massive military operations by the 51^st infantry battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army (PA) forced the evacuation of around 57 families or 311 individuals on February 4 from mountain communities of Purok 5 Logdeck, Purok 4 and Purok 3 Kiwagan in barangay San Isidro, Lianga.

The refugees have fled to the town center of Lianga last February 4. Once again, livelihoods and school activities have been disrupted.

Three ALCADEV teachers and a Belgian national were also harassed by members of the 401^st infantry battalion of the Philippine Army  based in Lianga, Surigao del Sur last February. The teachers and Joachim Sohie were refused entry into ALCADEV. Sohie, a New World intern, visited ALCADEV in order to observe Han-ayan school.

ALCADEV or the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development provides secondary education to poor indigenous youth. It also offers various livelihood skills training programs.

New World is funding a program to strengthen food security in 15 communities in the Caraga region, which remains militarized.

According to ALCADEV, the military asked the lumads to  organize a “bagani” or a civilian armed group of indigenous Filipinos against supposed New People’s Army rebels.  The evacuees were also told by the military to go back to their communities during an assembly called by a certain Lt. Palumino and Master Sgt. Batuli in San Isidro.

ALCADEV executive director Marife Magbanua says that the military has also set up a food blockade in SAMMILIA checkpoint in Diatagon, Lianga.

ALCADEV teachers Jerome Loquite, Ilyan Milladas and Mauro Mapinsahan were bringing food supplies to the school's 118 students in Han-ayan last Saturday from Lianga, but the military refused to allow them past the latter, which is an hour's drive from Han-ayan. The military men demanded that the teachers produce certifications from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Education, clearances from the barangay and the police, and a certificate from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples. This was impossible as it was a weekend and offices were closed. Due to the food blockade, the children from ALCADEV’s school went hungry.

Magbanua deplored the need for all the requirements, adding that a military colonel had threatened ALCADEV, accusing them of bringing rice to communists. But due to the food blockade, community members have turned to ALCADEV for food.

Magbanua added that when some lumads previously tried to bring 10 sacks of rice for the students, the military made them leave five sacks at the detachment.

“Lahat talaga ng [supplies] dadaan talaga sa brigade (All the supplies pass through the brigade).”

Sohie ‘s visa was also questioned by the military. A defiant Sohie said however that he was well within his rights as a tourist to conduct volunteer work.

“The [military] has taken a week from me because I could not enter the area. [T]hey do not know enough about visas.”

During the dialogue held at the municipal hall, vice mayor Jun Lala told Sohie that he “had no rights just like we Filipinos.” Even the local government units have no respect for human rights. Lala later apologized. Magbanua condemned the military for harassing Sohie.

“This is the second time that one of our [foreign visitors] has been harassed.”

PNFSP and its member organizations uphold indigenous people’s rights. It continues to support ALCADEV and its food security programs.