DAVAO CITY – The Philippine military on Friday denied involvement in an arson attack on a tribal school in the southern province of Agusan del Sur.
Human rights groups and church leaders have tagged pro-government militias and army soldiers as behind Thursday attack on the school run by the independent Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development, Inc. (ALCADEV) in Agusan del Sur’s Sibagat town.
Human rights group Karapatan said the attack also destroyed a 2,500-square meter demo farm and cottage used by teachers. No one was reported killed in the latest raid on ALCADEV schools which opened in June 2013 in the village of Padiay.
Karapatan accused the 23rd Infantry Battalion as having a hand in the attack and other killings of tribal members in the provinces who were suspected as sympathizers or members of the New People’s Army rebels.
Bishop Antonio Ablon told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner that the gunmen also burned many school text books and other educational supplies, including sewing machine, rice stocks, diesel generator and audio-visual equipment used by students.
The military’s Eastern Mindanao Command said the attack was carried out by gunmen disguised as members of the 23rd Infantry Battalion. It has condemned the arson.
“An initial investigation by the military revealed that the perpetrators disguised themselves as soldiers of 23rd Infantry Battalion,” Captain Alberto Caber, an army spokesman, said.
Caber, who quoted a report from Colonel Lynart Castimoso, the battalion commander, said the gunmen allegedly bought army uniforms and military backpacks from a tailoring shop in Butuan City and used them to disguise themselves.
“It is clear that the uniforms were used by the perpetrators in the burning of ALCADEV cottage. We strongly deny the involvement of our soldiers and we condemn the burning of ALCADEV cottage by the lawless bandit group. We will exert our best efforts to help the police in the investigation and law enforcement operations in the area,” Castisimo said in his report.
General Aurelio Baladad, the regional military commander, has condemned the attack, according to Caber.
Karapatan’s Cristina Palabay said the attackers raided the village before dawn Thursday. It was the second attack since September this year when militias – used by the army in fighting communist rebels – killed ALCADEV’s executive director Emerito Samarca and tribal leaders Dionel Campos and Datu Juvello Sinzo. The militias also burned two elementary schools operated by the Tribal Filipino Program for Surigao del Sur in the villages of Han-ayan and in Panukmuan all in Lianga town in Surigao del Sur province.
“This is the height of impudence. The Aquino regime continues to ignore the public uproar on the Lumad (indigenous people) killings and the resounding call to pull-out the military troops from the Lumad communities in Mindanao and to dismantle the AFP-backed paramilitary groups. It has instead given the military carte blanche (Unrestricted power to act at one’s own discretion or unconditional authority) to go on a rampage against the people in remote villages,” Palabay said.
AFP refers to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Palabay said they and other church groups are currently investigating the spate of extrajudicial killings of natives in Talaingod town in Davao del Norte and in Cabanglasan in Bukidnon province.
She said among those recently murdered by the militias and government troops were Datu Manliro Landahay, a council member of the Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanugon, the same organization that runs the Lumad schools in Davao provinces; and Mankombete Mariano, who was shot and then hacked to death by Dela Mance militia group in Bukidnon. (Mindanao Examiner)
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