LAST January 15, bishops of Western Visayas issued a Pastoral Letter condemning the Tumanduk killings, where a joint operation of the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police to serve 28 search warrants resulted in the death of nine people and the arrest of 17 members and leaders of the Tumandok tribes of Tapaz, Capiz and Calinog, Iloilo.
This incident is just another one of a string of similar anti-communist operations undertaken by the administration that led to instances of violence and questionable arrests. When facts repeat themselves, and the results repeat themselves, those who are paying attention and those who care would ask questions and demand answers, which is precisely what the Western Visayas bishops did in the letter.
The justification of authorities for the bloodshed in violence that happened that fateful day is simple: They were communists. As if that is supposed to be the end of the discussion. Asked as to why lethal force was necessary in such a "search" operation, they say: "nanlaban sila." As if that allegation should be taken as fact. We cannot help but draw parallels to this administration's drug war, because the same logic is applied. It is as if because someone is labeled something, he or she is not deserving of the rights accorded to every human being.
As we have mentioned in our Pastoral Letter, the Tumanduk is an alliance of 17 indigenous peoples' (IP) communities in Tapaz and Jamindan towns in Capiz and Calinog in Iloilo province that strongly opposes the construction of the Jalaur Mega Dam. The leaders believe that because of their strong opposition to the project, they became victims of red-tagging, being accused as members or supporters of the CPP-NPA.
With what happened to the Tumanduks, we Negrosanons are not wrong to be alarmed. We also have experienced many similar instances of irregularities in searches and arrests, as well as instances of violence and fatalities in our beloved island, especially during the height of Oplan Sauron, led by the now PNP Chief Debold Sinas. And just like with the Tumandoks, many groups and individuals in Negros have similarly expressed opposition to certain development projects which threaten our forests, water supply, health, and safety.
But raising the alarm does not mean retreating in fear. Especially as our current predicament demands that we stand our ground as to projects that would threaten to degrade and destroy our forests, which serve as our natural buffer and protector against deadly weather-related disasters worsening due to climate change. As I write this, we are in the midst of the worst flood we have had in recent memory, due to unprecedented heavy rains. Already, thousands of Negrosanons have been forced to evacuate because of this climate-related disaster. While we pray for the repose of those who lost their lives, as well as for the safety of those who were displaced, we must reflect on our role in preventing similar, if not worse, disasters in the future.
At present, the Northern Negros Natural Park is still being threatened by the construction of roads and infrastructure from the Administration's Build, Build, Build program. Sadly, the very places that will be affected by the construction and the deterioration of the NNNP are the ones who have suffered the most during this flooding. In this case, the words of Pope Francis as regards the environment in Laudato Si bears repeating: "It is not enough to balance, in the medium term, the protection of nature with financial gain, or the preservation of the environment with progress. Halfway measures simply delay the inevitable disaster."
Once the water settles and we finally overcome these tragic times, there will surely be a reckoning for those who still believe that our environment is worth ravaging for the sake of development. It is not unlikely that many of us would be tagged as Communists or "NPAs" in simply fulfilling our duty as Christians and as Filipinos to care about the environment and the welfare of our fellow citizens. But let these floods remind us of what is at stake: the climate knows no color, creed, or allegiance. This collective plight must lead us to collective action.
It is in this light that we implore our government to not create a culture of fear in which dissent and opposition cannot be expressed without fear of violent retribution. As was emphasized by our Holy Father, God encourages us to create a different culture, in which we resolve our conflicts and care for one another. It is only through meaningful dialogue, transparency, and accountability that we can truly address the problems which fuel not only insurgencies, but our shared plight in the middle of this climate emergency.
Only when we recognize the humanity in each other can we focus on uniting to solve the problems that affect us all. Instead of tagging each other as terrorists and enemies, we must see and treat each other as brothers and sisters sharing a common home. It is only when we realize this that true, lasting peace and progress can be achieved.