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Thursday, December 09, 2004
Agusan lumad folks demand Army pullout
SAN LUIS, Agusan del Sur -- Residents here are strongly opposing moves of the military in building homes inside their lumad village saying they fear this is only meant to sow disunity and confusion among them.
At least 213 residents signed a petition last Nov. 22 addressed to Governor. Adolph Edward Plaza calling for a halt on the construction of wooden houses and the immediate pull out of at least 30 soldiers belonging to the 29th Infantry Battalion stationed in their village.
Despite the petition, Balit barangay chairman Marcelito Precioso said the soldiers continue to build the houses which he believes is a defiance to basic constitutional guarantees of civilian supremacy over the military.
On Monday, the residents together with Precioso and lumad sector leaders trooped to the town hall to pressure local officials in taking steps to interfere with their gripes opposing the soldiers plans and moves.
Precioso told Mayor Jose Chua during the open forum that he suspects the entry of a sizeable number of soldiers in their village in the guise of development efforts like the housing project.
He said these are only meant to divide them and later dictate them in blocking the ongoing construction of a foreign-funded lumad infirmary hospital.
The infirmary hospital worth millions of pesos is expected to be finished by 2006 and is funded by the Austrian government through the efforts of the Religious of the Good Shepherd--Tribal Filipino Ministry (RGS-TFM).
"Sugod sa pag-abot nila maoy nakahimong yagaw. Bout nilang bahinon ang mga katawhan aron mahimo kami diktahan ug mawala ang programa sa ospital (Since they arrived the confusion started. They just want to divide us so that they can later dictate us if only to discourage the hospital program)," Precioso said during the dialogue.
But Chua clarified during the dialogue at the Municipal Council session hall that he did not request Army soldiers presence in Balit much so in allowing them to build homes.
"Kalouy sa Dios, wala gyud ko nag-request sa military nga moanha diha sa Balit ( For God's sake, I did not request the military to be there in Balit)," Chua said.
He said he was told by his staff that he was to blame for requesting the presence of army troopers.
He reiterated that he is with the Balit residents insofar as the immediate pullout of the Army troops and a stop of the house building project is concerned.
(December 9, 2004 issue)
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