Wednesday, January 23, 2008 Military denies lumads fleeing Talaingod due to operations
A MILITANT group condemned the military for its intense military operation in Talaingod, Davao del Norte that allegedly resulted in the displacement of lumads (tribes people) living in 17 affected barangays.
The military, however, denied that lumads have evacuated from the area but admitted having conducted an operation there after receiving reports about the presence of armed bandits in the area since December 2007.
In a statement, the Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao (Pasaka) said the Army's 73rd Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Colonel Alexander Ambal and the Army Scout Rangers have been conducting combat operations in the hinterlands of Talaingod.
The group said Ata-Manobo families in the area were forced to evacuate because of the military operations.
They claimed that at least 17 villages in Talaingod such as Tibukag, Purok 31, Paiton, Purok 17, Dalingding, Tibugaw, Natampod, Labuo, Duryan, Tambuko, Mahindang, Nalubas, Lasakan, Sasu, Bagang, Pongpong and Nasilaban "were gravely affected by the military operations."
"We demand the immediate pullout of military elements from Talaingod. Based on the reports reaching Pasaka, over the last 15 days, the counterinsurgency operations of government troops have sown terror in Talaingod by encamping in the homes and schools in barrio centers in almost all the Ata-Manobo communities in Talaingod," Pasaka chairperson Mel Elio said.
The group said local residents confirmed to them that during these military encampment and combat operations, farm animals were divested and slaughtered, lumad farm houses and farm rice and seeds destroyed and burnt down, water gallons of local residents were urinated on and left with fecal matter.
"The lumad residents also protested that their money, salt, tobacco (trisbi), knives, and bolos were taken," Elio said in a statement.
Lumad women were also reportedly being harassed and even datus (lumad leaders) like Datu Kolorot and Datu Ele were disrespected as their properties were also destroyed.
Residents of Sitio Lasakan were also allegedly prevented by the soldiers from going to their farm for three days. A 5-month-old baby named Kalyawa reportedly died due to hunger.
Lumads have reportedly transferred to Bukidnon while others opted to hide in the forests to allegedly evade the wrath of the military.
In a text message, Ambal denied the accusation saying the church and the mayor of Talaingod have not received any reports of mass evacuation by lumads in the area.
He said the military operation in the area stemmed from information they received about bandits extorting money and food from the residents of Barangays Dagohoy and Palma Gil since last month. (BOT/With press release)
