Military out to ensure smooth mining in Caraga, say lumad groups

By BEN SERRANO
Correspondent

BUTUAN City–The recent massive deployment of government troops in Caraga serves to secure the smooth entry of mineral extractive firms and not to protect the tribal communities in mineral rich areas of the region, two lumad groups claimed.

In a joint statement, Malahutayong Pakigbisog alang sa Sumusunod (Mapasu) and Kahugpungan sa mga Lumadnong Organisasyon (Kasalo) claimed that the augmentation of government troops in Cagara Region was initiated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) not to protect tribal communities but instead the interests of mining corporations in Andap Valley Complex.

The groups claimed that in Surigao del Sur alone there are now five AFP battalions deployed in seven municipalities, surrounding Andap Valley Complex: the 36th, 75th, 7th, 9th and 2nd Special Forces Battalion.

Mapasu leader and Kasalo spokesperson Josephine Pagalan said there are 14 army battalions and companies of the AFP operating in mineral rich, but poverty stricken areas in Caraga region.

“They are concentrating their military operations in the lumad and peasant communities located within coal and mineral rich Andap Valley Complex,” Pagalan claimed.

In a phone interview, 2nd Special Forces Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Gaspar Panopio confirmed that he and his troops have just arrived in Lianaga, Surigao del Sur from Bohol to augment troops in the area as ordered by their commanding officers.

“We just arrived here in Surigao del Sur from Bohol two weeks ago, we were sent here in Surigao del Sur by the higher authorities to arrest three primary suspects in Sitio Han-ayan, Lianga, Surigao del Sur lumad killings, to protect the lumads, their communities and identify and arrest the twenty armed John Does of principal massacre suspects Loloy Tejero, Bobby Tejero and Layno,” Panopio said.

But in a separate phone interview, Pagalan claimed the military in reality has not secured any tribal villages, civilian residents and the lumad people ever since.

“The military has instead organized and armed paramilitary groups that have been killing our leaders and attacking lumad communities to ensure entry of coal mining operations in Andap Valley Complex,” said Pagalan.

Pagalan added that mining firm Abacus Corp. is set to start coal mining operations in the municipalities of San Miguel, Tago and Marihatag in Surigao del Sur and has scheduled community consultations this November. Pagalan posited the deployment of troops in tribal communities is to secure the entry of the coal mining firm.

In a text message last week Saturday November 14 MGB-Caraga Regional Director Daniel Berderol dismissed Pagalan’s assertion by saying coal mining is not under their jurisdiction but with the Department of Energy.

“ We, lumads have been demanding the pull-out of military troops from our communities and the relief and investigation of commanding officers of military units involved in the massacre of Mapasu chairman Dionel Campos, Kiwagan Datu Juvello Sinzo and Alcadev executive director Emerito Samarca and the subsequent evacuations to Tandag City of 587 Lumad families with 2,914 individuals from 26 communities in 7 barangays in  five municipalities of Surigao del Sur. We have been demanding these numerous times in our statements, in interviews and in dialogue with representatives of government and non-government agencies but until now no one is listening to us, instead they placed more military units in our lumad communities” the joint statement of Mapasu and Kasalo reads.