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“We, the Lumad people will remain steadfast in fighting for our land, life and rights.”

By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – Student organizations at the University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman condemned former Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson’s blatant red-tagging of Lumad schools in Mindanao as well as UP students.

On Monday, Oct. 30, some Lumad trooped to Quezon Hall accusing the New People’s Army and Communist Party of the Philippines of committing “17 atrocities” in Mindanao. Among the alleged atrocities committed by the NPA were the purported killing of thousands of indigenous people’s leaders from “1980s to present just because they don’t follow what the NPAs wanted” and “making their ancestral domains as guerilla base and battle ground without permission.”

Uson covered the event through Facebook live.

Kasama sa UP, an alliance of student councils in UP condemned what they called as “desperate tactics of the state.” As the end of martial law in Mindanao is nearing, the alliance said President Duerte’s administration is doing anything to justify another extension of martial rule “to continue stepping over the rights of indigenous peoples to their ancestral lands and self-determination and to, ultimately, pacify the ever-growing resistance in Mindanao against the atrocities of this regime.”

“With Uson being a known propagator of fake propaganda, she is obviously serving her role as a tentacle of the state in trying to beautify the already rotting image of this regime,” the group said in its statement.

STAND UP, UP School of Economics Student Councils and UP Broadcasters’ Guild also expressed their condemnation of Uson and what they described as lies that she peddled to the public just to discredit the genuine Lumad organizations and the schools that they have built.

“As media adherent, it is our responsibility to bring out the truth. We will not let lies continue to spread. In real life, the state itself kills Lumad,” the UP Broadcasters’ Guild said in a statement.

Lumad leader surfaced by Uson in interview is wanted for multiple criminal charges

Prior to the trooping, Uson interviewed supposed Lumad leaders also claiming the same allegations and another interview with Lumad students claiming that they were taught how to dismantle firearms at Lumad schools.

But a report by Davao Today said Femia Cullamat, chairperson of Kahugpungan sa Lumadnong Organisasyon-Caraga (Kasalo-Caraga) identified one of the supposed leaders as Marcos Bocales who has a long standing warrant of arrest for the murder of Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (Alcadev) executive director Emerito Samarca, Lumad leaders Dionel Campos and Manobo Datu Juvello Sinzo.

Read: 40 days | Still no arrest made on Lianga massacre, as killings continue

Cullamat said Bocales was one of the leaders of Magahat-Bagani who led the horrendous Lianga massacre in Sept. 2015.

Bocales and several others were charged with multiple murder, arson, robbery grave coercion and grave threat.

Read: Datu in Mocha Uson interview is leader of paramilitary group tagged in Lumad killings – IP group

Meanwhile, Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan thanked Uson for bringing Bocales to Manila “even if Uson, Bocales and their cabal of disinformation agents of the government continue to spread lies.”

“Bocales has long standing warrant of arrest. His case is multiple murder. He should be arrested. Why is he still spreading lies?” said Palabay in her post in social media.

‘Black propaganda as testament to victories’

For Alcadev, the accusations which they have already debunked several years ago, is a testament to their victories.

“We have already shown the kind of education that we offer – one that is nationalist, scientific and mass-oriented. We have shown how the Lumad people have been so productive in tilling the ancestral lands and most importantly, we have been relentless in fighting for our right to self-determination,” Alcadev’s statement read.

Read: Alcadev: the school that feeds minds and communities

The Alcadev was formed through a joint resolution of two tribal organizations, Kahugpungan sa mga Lumad nga Nagkahiusa sa Surigao del Sur (KALUNASS) and the Malahutayong Pagkabisog alang sa Sumusunod (Mapasu). It began operations in 2004 and has served thousands of Lumad students who have long been deprived of education.

Alcadev provided academic, vocational and technical skills to its students coming from 32 Lumad communities all over the Caraga region.

“One thing is clear, Duterte is hell-bent in justifying his dictatorial ambitions and uses the bogus Lumad leaders to do so. They can no longer deny the growing resistance of the Lumad people against Duterte who is basically anti-Lumad,” Alcadev said.

Just last Oct. 23, around 15,000 Mindanaoans along with several Lumad groups marched in Butuan, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and General Santos protesting Duterte’s fascicm.

“We, the Lumad people will remain steadfast in fighting for our land, life and rights. We shall defend the victories we have achieved through our struggle as the detractors continue with their attempt in destroying our schools and communities. We shall not falter. We will resist,” Alcadev concluded.

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“This is part of an all-out assault against the people to further their repressive chokehold on ordinary Filipinos.”

By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Bulatlat.com

MANILA — Maria Roselle Locsin, 37, was watching television in their home on Oct. 7 in Sitio San Roque in Quezon City, along with her husband Bernie Tupaz and 10-year-old daughter, when armed men in plainclothes barged into their home.

They forcibly took her husband to “verify” his status despite her pleas that he has done nothing wrong. Later, she realized that the armed men were police officers carrying out an anti-illegal drug drive.

Locsin said her husband, a construction worker, is known in their community for his “clean record” that even the police’s own drug test result yielded negative. Still, he was detained at the Quezon City Police Station7 and later moved to the Quezon City Jail after charges were filed against him.

The recent spate in the illegal drug drive in their community, coinciding with the looming threats to have their homes demolished, has left the likes of Locsin and urban poor community leaders pondering on the probability that the war against drugs is being utilized to drive them away from their homes.

“Wala na nga kaming makain, ito pa ang gagawin nila (We already have norhing to eat and now this is what they are doing to us.)” Locsin quipped during a Bulatlat interview.

In a statement, urban poor group Kadamay said 53 residents have been arrested in recent weeks in the name of the anti-drug war. They noted, however, that the arrested residents are living near EDSA, which is the part of their community tagged for demolition.

Since 2010, the government authorities have resorted to “pocket demolitions,” after they failed to break the barricade of the residents during that year. From more 16,000 families, there are still 6,000 families residing in the community as of this writing.

“This is part of an all-out assault against the people to further their repressive chokehold on ordinary Filipinos. In the case of San Roque, police operations are being done to pave the way for the Ayala Land Ventures and a branch of the Solaire Casino,” said Kadamay.

Police authorities are not exactly of immaculate record in their implementation of President Duterte’s bloody war against drugs. Apart from the rampant and systematic killings that human rights activists estimate to be about 20,000, a police officer was recently arrested over the rape of a 15-year-old girl.

In the case of Tupaz, his wife Locsin told Bulatlat that her husband was beaten several times to make him admit that he was indeed a drug user.

The poor are often victims of the anti-drug campaign

Estrelieta Bagasbas, a resident and a leader of urban poor group Kadamay, said the urban poor has had enough of the “nanlaban” narrative of the police, whenever there are casualties in their operations.

Human rights groups have long assailed that President Duterte’s war on illegal drugs has only targetted the poor.

Bagasbas said, “stop the killings. Stop the demolition of our homes.”

Impact to their lives

In between tears, Locsin said she hardly sleeps at all as she is dead worried over her husband’s situation.

“He sleeps under the billiards table. He has not eaten anything since yesterday. When I paid him a visit, he was begging me to help him. But what can I do? Who should I ask help from?” she told Bulatlat.

Meanwhile, her daughter has not been attending school since her husband’s arrest as she was deeply traumatized by the incident.

Their family has also lost their income. Tupaz works as a construction worker at the Philippine Science High School, earning P520 per day.

Kadamay urged the government to “face them and heed their demands instead of using dirty tactics and to give justice to the families of the arrested victims.”

The post Is ‘drug war’ being used vs. urban poor dwellers facing demolition? appeared first on Bulatlat.

By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Bulatlat.com

MANILA — In the five long years that Jennifer Dalquez languished in jail as a prisoner in death row, she always knew in her heart that she will one day go home.

“My faith was very strong. I always knew that I will be free one day,” Dalquez told the media in a short interview.

Her family and supporters gathered in a humble celebration at the National Council of Churches in the Philippines’ Ecumenical
Center in Quezon City on Nov. 7.

This is the first time that Dalquez learned of the struggles of her family and supporters to save her from the gallows. She told the media that she was deeply touched when she learned what it it took to finally bring her home.

A single mother of two, Dalquez flew to United Arab Emirates in a bid to uplift her family’s dire living conditions.

In 2014, Dalquez was accused of killing her employer, who attempted to rape her. She was jailed and later sentenced to death. Her family has been battling against all odds ever since.

On Nov. 2, she was finally reunited with her family.

“I am very happy,” she said.

Forced labor migration must end

United Methodist Pastor Sol Villalon pointed out that forced labor migration must be put to an end.

She said that many Filipinos who were victims of abuses and maltreatment abroad still opt to leave the country upon their return because of the lack of decent-paying jobs here.

Migrante International spokesperson Arman Hernando said the struggle will continue for Dalquez and her family as they once again confront the realities that, in the first place, pushed her to work abroad.

“Big problems lie ahead of us. But we still manage to smile because we have victories like Jennifer’s return,” Pastor Villalon said.

In an interview, Dalquez said she does not have plans yet.

“I will know when I return to General Santos,” she added.

Messages of solidarity

Alice, mother of Dalquez, said she is very grateful to all those who exerted help to their family and those who joined them in their struggle.

Armalyn Mariposa, who served a six-month sentence in UAE for “selfie without permission,” said her “kakosa” was a source of inspiration to them.

In a video message, Mary Jane Veloso’s mother Celia Veloso said their family is very happy.

“Naiinggit ako,” she jested.

Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas said this is a victory for the Filipino people. She said that Gabriela has long been calling for the end of the labor export policy and the generation of decent-paying jobs in the country.

“This is the first time that I have met her. But it feels like I have known her for a long time because I have known her name, her case, and we carry her photos all the time. Her mother and father are like parents to me as well,” Rep. Brosas said.

Ron Fajardo, son of Gregoria Fajardo, a Filipina in death row in Malaysia who died while in detention last year, said Dalquez’s freedom is a “spark of hope” for them.

Alice said, “habang may buhay, may pag-asa. Fight-fight lang.” (Bulatlat.com)

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