ACTIVISTS in Northern Mindanao are demanding that two Lumad and peasant rights defenders be freed from alleged illegal detention.
They said Datu Jomorito Goaynon, chairperson of the Kalumbay Regional Lumad Organization, and Ireneo Udarbe, chairperson of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas Northern Mindanao (KMP-10), were illegally arrested and detained on Monday, January 28.
The Movement Against Tyranny (MAT) in Northern Mindanao said it found the arrest of Goaynon and Udarbe "preposterous in its logic, idiotic in its context and illegal in its very essence."
Police on Tuesday, January 29, claimed that the two activists were leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA), armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, and were arrested on the strength of a supposed arrest warrant for attempted and frustrated murder along Patag road, past 12:00 noon Monday.
Goaynon and Udarbe were on their way to Barangay Carmen to meet with the members of Pig-uyonan Lumad group for a dialogue with the 65th Infantry Battalion in Talakag, Bukidnon, which was facilitated by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
Human rights group Karapatan Northern Mindanao said the public utility jeepney boarded by the two activists was flagged down by the military and police elements to supposedly serve the arrest warrants against the two in connection with the NPA attack at the Binuangan, Misamis Oriental police station.
Police claimed that they seized a caliber 45 pistol and a hand grenade from the possession of Goaynon and Udarbe. But the group insists those were "planted".
Karapatan also said Udarbe has already posted bail on the Binuangan attack case while Goaynon's name is not included in the arrest warrant.
"Any common citizen with sound mind would not believe that two high-profile human rights defenders would carry firearms and explosives in broad daylight while commuting on a public vehicle in a populated city,"MAT-Northern Mindanao said.
The group said it is also impossible for the two to carry guns and explosives while they were scheduled to meet with the military in Talakag town.
Rights violation
Karapatan, on the other hand, said the two were deprived of their rights when they were arrested.
"Around 30 hours nga wala mi kabalo kung aha sila even their families wala na inform nga gidakop diay sila that is why gi-declare namo sila nga missing. Tuesday night na nagpagawas og statement ang police nga they were arrested so kana violations sa ilang rights," the group said.
"Any civilian, who knows they have civil and political rights, would be disgusted at the act of abducting the two activists and making up charges afterwards to cover up and justify the forcible disappearance," MAT-Northern Mindanao added.
Authorities filed illegal possession of firearms and explosives, violation of Republic Act 9372 (Human Security Act), Election gun ban and rebellion against Goaynon and Udarbe.
Lawyer Czarina Musni of the Union of People's Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM), legal counsel of the two activists, said the two availed their rights to a preliminary investigation as they were given by the fiscal's office 10 days to file their counter-affidavit.
Karapatan also belied the claims of the government security forces that Goaynon and Udarbe are NPA leaders.
They said the two were active in defending and advancing indigenous peoples and peasants rights. The two spearheaded the exposition of multiple human rights violations in their respective sectors committed by state agents and openly join campaigns that benefit the majority of the lumad and peasants in the region.
"The PNP's accusation that the two activists are NPA leaders are storylines the state has worn out in its crusade to eliminate all of its critiques, to suppress human rights defenders," KMP-Northern Mindanao said.
"We call on the PNP to immediately release Datu Jomorito Goaynon and Ireneo Udarbe; enough with your fictitious story lines and drop all the fabricated charges against them," Karapatan added.