THE military denied allegations of "food blockade" and said they were merely following local government orders when they prohibited a leftist group from distributing relief goods directly to evacuees in Lianga town in Surigao del Sur.
Captain Rodulfo Cordero Jr. of 401st Infantry Brigade said in a statement released Sunday, December 3, that the local government unit (LGU) of Lianga had ordered that any relief operations be coordinated with them.
"There was no food blockade as alleged by organizations like Alcadev (Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development Inc.) and TRIFPSS (Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur Schools)," Cordero said.
"They only need to adhere to the rules or policies set by the LGU of Lianga as decided by the Municipal Peace and Order Council," he added.
Around 9 a.m. of November 30, three vehicles loaded with about 50 individuals asked for clearance to pass through the military checkpoint at Neptune Patrol Base. Their request was denied.
“The soldier explained to Ms. (Willyn) Valmores that as agreed during the MPOC meeting last Monday, November 27, 2017 at the legislative building of Lianga that all relief goods for the evacuees in KM9 shall be coursed through the MSWDO. This is to ensure the safety of both the evacuees and individuals who want to help,” Cordero said.
Valmores introduced themselves to the soldier as students and teachers of TRIFPSS, who wished to visit the evacuees at KM9. She said they had with them food supplies for the evacuees.
After minutes of dialogue, they left, but around 1 p.m., the group returned to the Patrol Base and again negotiated with the help of SB Dollano.
They again asked to be allowed to pass but their request was again denied.
Cordero said they also found out that one of the vehicles used by the group bore a fake temporary plate. The temporary plate used for a Foton white van 152405 belongs to a passenger van Toyota Hi Ace, plying the Bislig-to-Tandag route.
“This adds to the doubts on the real intention of the group who wanted to visit the evacuation center in KM9,” he said.
Meanwhile, authorities assured the residents of Lianga and San Agustin that despite the ongoing security operations, there is no reason for them to evacuate since the area of operations is far from their communities and their only intention is to pursue the fleeing New People's Army (NPA) "terrorists."
On one hand, Lianga municipal social welfare and development officer Melita Encenzo, in a phone interview with SunStar Davao, said that NGOs like Accord and ACF Diocese met with Mayor Homer Pedrozo and asked permission to visit the evacuees and extend assistance, although, as agreed during the emergency Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) meeting together with other agencies, any group is restricted from going there.
“Any relief goods for the evacuees in KM 9 Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur shall be coordinated with the MSWDO of Lianga. Only MSWDO or LGU personnel are allowed to distribute relief goods in order to prevent any organization or personalities from exploiting and coercing our lumads to go against the government. This was agreed by the MPOC members during the meeting at Lianga Legislative Hall last 26 November 2017,” Encenzo said.
Based on the status report on the evacuation of IP families, the barangay council of Diatagon had already extended five bags of rice and five boxes of noodles and distributed these last November 29 with PSWDO May Salinas and SWAD Team leader Fe Balason to a total of 251 families.
However, there were eight families coming from Sitio Emerald and 51 families from Km 9 who were also clamoring to be included as evacuees, since they cannot go to their farmlands for fear of the ongoing military operations. Thus, they are coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to increase the number of relief packs.
The evacuation of the Lumad families was due to the ongoing military and hot pursuit operations against armed groups last November 28 to 29 who were responsible for the incident that happened last November 6 in Purok 5 San Isidro, Lianga, Surigao del Sur and the burning of a container van of Dole Philippines.
The NGO demanded for an investigation into the alleged food blockade, saying this violates their human rights and the international humanitarian law.
Encenzo clarified that should these groups want to extend assistance, they could turn over their donations to the LGU or the local social welfare office that are responsible for the distribution of the relief goods to the evacuees since they have the master list of the internally displaced persons.