M’nao group stages protest at Camp Aguinaldo

A GROUP of workers, peasants, Lumad, Moro, and human rights advocates from Mindanao yesterday trooped to Camp Aguindaldo yesterday to call for the termination of martial law.

Iglesia Filipina Independiente Bishop Antonio Ablon, convenor of Barug Katungod Mindanao who led the demonstrators, slammed what he called as the continuing repression of people’s rights in Mindanao.

“This is unli-fascism,” said Ablon in reference to the recommendation of the Department of National Defense to extend martial law in Mindanao.

The demonstrators from Mindanao presented their “Exhibits A to Z” as they claimed that martial law has led to widespread violations of people’s rights. These include:

• 300 Namasufa union workers holding a picket at Mendiola to demand action against Japanese firm Sumifru;
• extrajudicial killing of Linus Cubol, KMU and Anakpawis leader from Caraga;
• continuing attacks on Alcadev, Triffps, Salugpungan and other Lumad schools all over Mindanao and the status of their “Bakwit School” in Manila;
• The continuing saga of the Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental evacuees fleeing from militarization;
• red-tagging of Bishop Ablon and other church people in Mindanao;
• forced and fake surrenders of the community of Saad in the Zamboanga Peninsula;
• updates on the Lake Sebu massacre victims and the continuing fight against the Consunji company in Sultan Kudarat;
• the relentless fight of the people of Marawi to return and rebuild their homes.

“What happened to Satur Ocampo and congresswoman France Castro in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, is very telling of state fascism and tyranny. If the police and military can violate legal processes at whim against these prominent individuals, how much more for ordinary folks like the Lumad, Moro, and peasants?”Ablon asked rhetorically.

He alleged that in just one year since the implementation of martial law in Mindanao, there have been 154 cases of extrajudicial killings, 700 individuals have been falsely charged, at least 50 Lumad schools have been harassed and closed, and over half a million Maranao and Lumad people were displaced.

Barug Katungod Mindanao said until now, Marawi City has not seen any significant and people-centered rehabilitation, and many Maranaos have yet to return to their homes.

“To further extend Martial Law is to put more salt to their wounds,” said Ablon.

The group said members of the paramilitary group “Alamara,” allegedly controlled by the military, are the “real villains in the Talaingod saga.”

“With the looming of yet another extension of martial law in Mindanao, Mindanaoans are exposing the tyranny of the Duterte regime. Now more than ever, we are united in fighting the fascist and dictatorial rule of Duterte. We are strongly saying no to martial law and its further extension,” Ablon said.