the

RedHunt
Stories of Human Rights
Violations in the Time of
Martial Law in Mindanao

February 2018
Contents of this book may be quoted from or copied so long as the source/authors
are acknowledged. The Mindanao Observatory for Human Rights and its consortium
member organizations do not guarantee that information contained in this book is appropriate
to every possible circumstances and shall not be held liable for any damage incurred as a result
of its use.

Copy of this book is available on-line:

http://mohr.ph/ | www.rmp-nmr.org

About the cover: Martial Law has placed much of the island’s peoples on the cross hairs of brutal
repression. As sitting duck targets, the number of victims continue to rise by the day.

Lay-out: Gary Ben S. Villocino

Photos: RMP-NMR, Inc.

This book is collectively authored by consortium member organizations of the Mindanao

Observatory for Human Rights (MOHR) with the KARAPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement
of People’s Rights) chapter in Northern Mindanao as the lead organization writing this report.

The MOHR is a consortium of rural poor civil society organizations and human rights
organizations established to monitor, document, and report attacks against Human Rights
Defenders especially with the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao, Philippines. Its lead
organizations are the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines-Northern Mindanao Sub-Region
(RMP-NMR) and the northern Mindanao formations of KARAPATAN and the Union of People’s
Lawyers in Mindanao.

Additionally, this Report is published by RMP-NMR with the assistance of Lifeline Embattled
CSO Assistance Fund. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of MOHR and
its consortium member organizations and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the
Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund.

Publisher:
Rural Missionaries of the Philippines
Northern Mindanao Sub-Region
(RMP-NMR), Inc

Office address:
Room 310, 3rd Floor, Diocesan Centrum
Salvador Lluch St., Poblacion
9200 Iligan City
Philippines
T/F: +63 (63) 303 1595
Mobile: +63 917 590 8804
E: info@rmp-nmr.org
W: www.rmp-nmr.org
Follow us at twitter: @rmpnmr
Like us in Facebook: @rmpnmr.inc

ISBN: xxxxxxxxxx
The
Red Hunt

v
 We cannot be silent

T he stories of human rights violations plaguing the Mindanaoans are

repeated over-and-over again. But this time, with more seriousness,
as every recurrence underscores the culture of impunity encouraged
by the military rule in the island.

As witnesses to the valiant work of our Mindanaoan activists and community

leaders asserting the right to land and to life of our respective communities,
we cannot be silent when their efforts are equated into terrorism. And as
our humble contribution to the over-all effort to deter Martial Law-inspired
impunity enveloping the Mindanao landscape, we are publishing this book
report under the Mindanao Observatory for Human Rights.

It is our hope that, as human rights activists and as Mindanaoans, the

accounts in this book will hold against the narratives of the State that this
regime’s Martial Law respects human rights.

We cannot be so quiet you could hear a pin drop in the face of these vicious
attacks against the dignity of our people and their defenders. Let us all
stand up for human rights against Martial Law in Mindanao—even if we
ourselves will be branded as terrorists for doing the right thing.

Bishop Melzar Labuntog

Chairperson, KARAPATAN-
Northern Mindanao
Convener, Mindanao Observatory
for Human Rights
01 December 2017

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Martial Law's expendables

T he government’s drive to end the decades-long armed rebellion of

the Communist Party Philippines-New People’s Army-National
Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) has stuck to its militaristic
campaign in today’s decision on the extension of Martial Law in
Mindanao. Unfortunately, in the past months since its proclamation, it
has done more damage to civilians than to the armed group it has vowed
to target.

The solons once more turned their backs on the Filipinos in Mindanao who
exist in the fringes of society, who time and again are the sacrificial lambs
to political and economic agendas. They have forgotten that these sectors
too are part of their constituency—the sectors that compose the country’s
‘expendables’.

Who are the terrorists targeted by Martial Law?

From the documentation of the Mindanao Observatory on Human Rights,

the pattern of the state’s targets is obvious—they are hitting organizations
and communities that have been fighting primarily for economic rights.
These are the people and organizations that have criticized the government’s
development agenda that does not respect the rights of the poor sectors.
These are the people and organizations that have been calling for access to
basic social services.

These are the terrorists the government is ‘protecting’ the Filipino people
from. And people supporting Martial Law conveniently forgot that the
society we live in now is actually on these expendables’ backs.

vii
 The economic benefits we enjoy now have been built on the toil of millions
of laborers who had taken to the streets decades long ago, demanding
for just labor practices. Had they been silent, had they accepted their
oppression and exploitation as fate, most of us would still be slaving day
and night in cramped quarters, unable to access any opportunity of rising
beyond meager daily existence.

The civil liberties we have had been paid for with blood—from our colonizers,
from repressive and tyrannical governments. Had they not dare fight, we
would have continued to exist as second-class citizens of our country
which we could not call our own.

The diminishing power of the people to freely express their opinions and
complaints against state policies is an affront to our democracy. Democracy
is not only a matter of being able to participate in elections. Democracy
means the power is held by the people (demos)—not a few politicians, not
a few economic elites, and definitely not the military.

We continue to stand against Martial Law.

Atty. Czarina Golda Musni

Coordinator, Union of People’s
Lawyers in Mindanao (Northern
Mindanao Chapter) |
Spokesperson, Mindanao
Observatory for Human Rights
13 December 2017

viii
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Red Hunt

Table of Contents
01 Foreword

Chapter 1 06 Terrorist Hysteria: Launching pad of

Military rule in Marawi and Elsewhere
in Mindanao.

Chapter 2 19 Wounding the hands that till the earth

Chapter 3 29 Shooting the stewards of Mindanao’s

remaining lands & forests Violating
Indigneous Peoples’ Rights

Chapter 4 40 Other Targets: Human rights advocates

and workers

Chapter 5 44 Conclusion

Chapter 6 50 Recommendations

54 Postscript

ix
x
 The
Red Hunt

Members of survivors’ group Tindeg Ranao

during the rally in Iligan City in time of President
Duterte’s State of the Nation Address

xi
Foreword
 The
Red Hunt

o n May 23, 2017 Pres. Rodrigo Duterte

Proclamation (PP) 216 declaring Martial Law and suspending
released Presidential

the privilege of writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao in Southern

Philippines.

The government cited the “series of violent attacks committed by the Maute
group,” believed to be influenced by the global terrorist ISIS (Islamic State
of Iraq and Syria) group, in the Islamic City of Marawi as the rationale
behind the Declaration. 1

The Declaration was supposed to be in effect for only 60 days. But on July
22, 2017, the joint houses of congress voted to extend Martial Law until
the end of 2017 at the request of President Duterte. After upholding the
President’s declaration of Martial Law in its July 4 ruling, the Supreme
Court again affirmed the request for extension of the military rule up to
the end of 2017 in its December 5 decision. On December 13, Senate and
Congress again voted to support President Duterte’s another request for
Martial Law extension, this time, for a year.

Various groups, parties, organizations, and individuals expressed their

disapproval of the Martial Law declaration and its subsequent extension in
the island. In one of these petitions to the Supreme Court, five Mindanawons
pointed out that PP 216 failed to show any factual basis for the imposition
of Martial Law in the entire Mindanao as the act of rebellion cited in
the original proclamation did not extend to areas outside of the Islamic
City of Marawi. The petitioners claimed that the martial rule proclamation
in the entirety of Mindanao is “unwarranted, unjustifiable, and wholly
out of proportion”.2

1. Proclamation 216: Declaring a State of Martial Law and Suspending the Privilege of the Habeas Corpus in the Whole of Mindanao.
Office of the President, Malacanang Palace, Manila, May 23, 2017
2 GR 231771, Cullamat et al vs Duterte et al. Petition to the Supreme Court

1
 Many human rights groups and people’s organizations also feared that
Martial Law would only result to intensified human rights violations against
the people of Mindanao—particularly the poor farmers, Lumad and the
Bangsamoro. The bloody history of former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos’ Martial
Law in 1972 was enough reason for them to understand the repercussions
of the military rule.

The government and the military repeatedly downplayed these concerns,

claiming that they will ensure no human rights violations will occur during
the implementation of Martial Law.3

Who are the Human Rights Defenders?

The United Nations General Assembly, in 1998, adopted the ‘Declaration

on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of
Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms’—more known as ‘The Declaration on Human
Rights Defenders’.4

According to the Declaration, the Human Rights Defender (HRD) is someone

who “individually or with others, act to promote or protect human rights.”

HRDs can be any person or group of persons working to promote human

rights, ranging from intergovernmental organizations based in the world’s
largest cities to individuals working within their local communities

The same document observed that “a great many human rights defenders,
in every region of the world, have been subject to violations of their human
rights. They have been the target of executions, torture, beatings, arbitrary
arrest and detention, death threats, harassment and defamation, as well

3 ABS-CBN News. “Military to uphold human rights amid Mindanao martial law-army official.” 24 May 2017. news.abs-cbn.com/
news/05/24/17/military-to-uphold-human-rights-amid-mindanao-martial-law-army-official. Accessed 16 October 2017
4 UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Declaration on Human Rights Defenders: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/
Issues/SRHRDefenders/Pages/Declaration.aspx

2
 The
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as restrictions on their freedoms of movement, expression, association and

assembly. Defenders have been the victims of false accusations and unfair
trial and conviction.”

Furthermore, the Declaration underscores the States’ duties and

responsibilities to implement and respect all the provisions of the
Declaration , to wit:

• To protect, promote and implement all human rights;

• To ensure that all persons under its jurisdiction are able to enjoy
all social, economic, political and other rights and freedoms in
practice;
• To adopt such legislative, administrative and other steps as may
be necessary to ensure effective implementation of rights and
freedoms;
• To provide an effective remedy for persons who claim to have been
victims of a human rights violation;
• To conduct prompt and impartial investigations of alleged violations
of human rights;
• To take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of everyone
against any violence, threats, retaliation, adverse discrimination,
pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or
her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the Declaration;
• To promote public understanding of civil, political, economic,
social and cultural rights;
• To ensure and support the creation and development of independent
national institutions for the promotion and protection of human
rights, such as ombudsmen or human rights commissions;
• To promote and facilitate the teaching of human rights at all levels
of formal education and professional training.

3
 Mindanao and its defenders

Against the backdrop of the resource-rich Mindanao is a vibrant protest

movement of rural poor organizations who are leading campaigns for land
and other related rights—poor farmers of migrant descent, agricultural
workers, Indigenous Peoples and the Bangsamoro—deep-rooted in the long
history of resistance of the Mindanawons to colonialism, wholesale land
grabbing and suppression of dissent.

Rural poor organizations and their leaders are the first line of defense
of Mindanao communities asserting their rights over their lands and to
self-determination. These community leaders and organizations are aptly
defined as ‘Human Rights Defenders’ with their work falling under the
definition of ‘The Declaration on Human Rights Defenders’.

However, in Mindanao, HRDs are being judicially harassed, intimidated,

vilified, or killed. They have suffered various forms of attacks to prevent
them from doing their human rights work for their respective communities.

About this report

In the context of the Martial Law declaration taking off from the State’s
response to the Marawi Crisis, this Report details on the strings of human
rights violations committed against the Mindanaoans, with main focus on
Northern Mindanao as the most adjacent region to the besieged city.

Large portion of this report gives special attention to attacks on HRDs in

Mindanao working on land and related rights.

The data and the stories presented in this Report are mainly sourced from
the human rights alerts released by member-organizations of the Mindanao
Observatory for Human Rights, reports from other partner organizations
and from various online sources, covering the period of May 23 up to
December 31, 2017.

4
 The
Red Hunt

Produced for the Mindanao Observatory for Human Rights, the production
of this Report is led by KARAPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement of
People’s Rights) chapter in Northern Mindanao, in coordination with the
Union of People’s Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM) and the Rural Missionaries
of the Philippines-Northern Mindanao Sub-Region (RMP-NMR).

About the Mindanao Observatory for Human Rights

The Mindanao Observatory for Human Rights is a consortium of rural

poor civil society organizations (CSOs) and human rights organizations
established to monitor, document, and report attacks against HRDs
especially with the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao, Philippines.

Its lead organizations are the RMP-NMR, and the northern Mindanao
formations of KARAPATAN and the UPLM.

Its partner rural poor organizations include: Kalumbay Regional Lumad

Organization, Tindeg Ranao, Madagway Babaeyon, Kahugpungan sa mga
Mag-uuma sa Bukidnon (KASAMA-Bukidnon), Organisasyon sa mga
Yanong Obrerong Nagkahiusa (Ogyon-UMA), ‘Higala sa Lumad’ Network,
Misamis Oriental Farmers’ Association (MOFA), Kahupungan sa mga Mag-
uuma sa Lanao (KAMAS Lanao) and the local chapters of Suara Bangsamoro,
Moro-Christian People’ Alliance, AMIHAN National Federation of Peasant
Women, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Save Our Schools Network
and the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamalakaya sa Pilipinas.

5
 Chapter 1

Terrorist
Hysteria:
Launching pad
of military rule
in Marawi and
elsewhere in
Mindanao

6
 The
Red Hunt

P res. Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation 216 that placed the whole
Mindanao island under Martial Law on May 23. 2017. This was in
response to the siege of armed men who identified themselves as
Dawlah Islamiya, but more popularly known by the surname of its leaders,
‘Maute’.

The Dawlah Islamiya were aided by a self-proclaimed leader of a local ISIS

network in Mindanao, Isnilon Hapilon and his Abu Sayyaf faction from
Basilan. Hapilon was the target of a manhunt operation by the military,
and on May 23, government forces were supposed to serve a warrant for
his arrest on the basis of a US$5 million bounty put up by the US State
Department for alleged terrorist acts against US citizens. 1

Initially, the scope of the declaration of Martial Law and the suspension of
the privilege of writ of habeas corpus was announced to be implemented
only in provinces with big Muslim populations such as Zamboanga City,
Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Maguindanao. Other regions were included
not only because of possible presence but due to the existence of New
People’s Army (NPA). 2

All the six regions in Mindanao have set up 17,494 checkpoint operations
and curfews in 129 cities.3 In Davao City, home and bailiwick of President
Duterte, Mayor Sarah Duterte ordered the lockdown of the city while the
military rounded up of more than 250 civilians without identification cards
and mostly belonging to a certain Moro tribe, based solely on a flimsy report
of terrorist presence in the area.4

1 Philippine Star. “Rody offers P20-M bounty for Hapilon, Maute brods.” 5 June 2017. https://beta.philstar.com/head-
lines/2017/06/05/1707206/rody-offers-p20-m-bounty-hapilon-maute-brods. Accessed on 12 October 2017
2 Presidential Communications Operations Office. “Press Briefing by Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella with Department
of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana andDepartment of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.” 23 May 2017.
https://pcoo.gov.ph/may-23-2017-press-briefing-by-presidential-spokesperson-ernesto-abella-with-department-of-national-de-
fense-secretary-delfin-lorenzana-and-department-of-foreign-affairs-secretary-alan-peter-cayetano/
Accessed 12 October 2017
3 Davao Today. “Martial Law in Mindanao covers 17,494 checkpoint operations, curfews in 129 cities.” 30 June 2017. http://davaoto-
day.com/main/politics/martial-law-in-mindanao-covers-17494-checkpoint-operations-curfews-in-129-cities/.
Accessed 12 October 2017
4 Philstar Global. “Davao City rounds up at least 250 for having no ID.” 26 May 2017. https://beta.philstar.com/na-
tion/2017/05/26/1703803/davao-city-rounds-least-250-having-no-id. Accessed 12 October 2017

7
 It was only a week later that the instructions on how to conduct the arrest
came out, and another week after the list of suspects were released. On
May 30, Department of National Defense chief and appointed Martial Law
administrator secretary, Delfin Lorenzana, issued General Order No. 1
instructing the AFP and other law enforcement groups to “immediately
arrest persons and groups who have committed, are committing, or
attempting to commit (acts of rebellion and lawless violence in Mindanao).”5

The second arrest order was issued on June 5, this time, with a list of
at least 186 individuals believed to be belonging to Moro armed groups
behind the attack in Marawi City, namely the Abu Sayyaf, Maute group,
Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), Maguid group and a vague
category of “known as perpetrators/supporters/couriers.” 6

The two general orders opened up a flood of arrests in checkpoints and

in evacuation centers. However, there was a dearth of arrested persons of
interests listed in the arrest order, hence, President Duterte asked for an
extension of the Martial Law declaration.7 By the end of August, more
than 132 individuals were reported arrested in Northern Mindanao and
Lanao provinces on various cases including drug possession and violation
of the curfew.8

In its second fact-finding mission (FFM) in evacuation centers in Iligan

City and Lanao del Sur done in July 26-29 last year, the interfaith group
Kalinaw Mindanao was able to gather at least 45 cases of illegal arrest and
detention of Moro civilians during the period of Martial Law, five of them

5 VERA Files. “Vera Files Factsheet: Martial Law arrest orders and what they mean.” 19 June 2017. http://verafiles.org/articles/martial-
law-arrest-orders-and-what-they-mean. Accessed 12 October 2017
6 ABS-CBN News. “DND chief orders arrest of Abu Sayyaf, Maute, BIFF members, spies.” 09 June 2017. http://news.abs-cbn.com/
news/06/09/17/dnd-chief-orders-arrest-of-abu-sayyaf-maute-biff-members-spies. Accessed 12 October 2017
7 GMA News Online. “Only 12 of 200 persons of interest arrested during Martial Law Mindanao – Duterte.” 19 July 2017. http://www.
gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/618641/only-12-of-200-persons-of-interest-arrested-during-mindanao-martial-law-duterte/
story/. Accessed 12 October 2017
8 SunStar. “Army records 132 arrests since Martial Law declaration.” http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/lo-
cal-news/2017/08/31/army-records-132-arrests-martial-law-declaration-561423. Accessed 12 October 2017

8
 The
Red Hunt

were tortured into admitting that they are terrorists.9 Another six cases of
illegal arrests were reported during the third FFM conducted on November
15-18 and more than 15 individuals who reported harassment from the
military. 10

In the months that would follow, warrantless arrests due to Martial Law
would target not only Moro civilians but even human rights defenders in
Mindanao. On June 29, a checkpoint in Davao City has detained at least
five known human rights defenders, one was the secretary-general of a
local chapter of human rights group Karapatan.11 This sent a chilling
effect on other human rights defenders actively working in various areas
of the island.

Sacrificing the Bangsamoro and the People of the Lake

for the ‘war-on-terror’

The Moro people comprise the 13 Islamized ethnolinguistic groups of

Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan namely Maguindanaoan, Tausug, Iranon,
Sama, Yakan, Kalagan, Sangir, Molboganon, Palawanis, Jama Mapun,
Kalbogan, Badjao and the Meranao. Historically, they are the first to unite
the different indigenous peoples in Mindanao through a feudal monarchy—
similar and in connections with the Southeast Asian Sultanates who
embraced the Islamic faith—to fight against Spanish colonialism, hence,
they collectively call themselves as the Bangsamoro or the Moro nation.

Because of Spanish and American colonialism, the Moro people and other
indigenous groups in the Philippines were marginalized economically and
politically. Under the Philippine republic, they assert their right to self-

9 Davao Today. “Humanitarian Mission reports 309 cases of human rights violations in Marawi City.” 02 August 2017. http://davaoto-
day.com/main/human-rights/humanitarian-mission-reports-309-cases-of-human-rights-violation-in-marawi/ http://davaotoday.
com/main/human-rights/humanitarian-mission-reports-309-cases-of-human-rights-violation-in-marawi/. Accessed 12 October
2017
10 RMP-NMR Inc. “The Long Road to Justice.” December 2017. http://www.rmp-nmr.org/sites/default/files/downloads/NIHM%20
3LR.pdf. Accessed 20 December 2017.
11 Interaksyon. “Activists leaders held at Davao checkpoint for 5 hours.” 29 June 2017. http://www.interaksyon.com/activist-leaders-
held-at-davao-checkpoint-for-5-hours-karapatan/. Accessed 12 October 2017

9
 determination such as the right to form their own government and rights
to their ancestral land. But despite existing peace negotiations with the
Philippine government, the Moro people’s resistance is often being connected
with international terrorists in the arena of the US’ global ‘war-on-terror’.

In Marawi City, the Meranao—called as the ‘People of the Lake’—bore the

brunt of the Philippines’ commitment to this ‘war-on-terror’. Martial Law in
Mindanao allowed the government to use air and ground assaults, the most
notorious was the ‘surgical airstrikes’ using US jet fighter planes that did
more damage and eventually pulverized many buildings and residences in
the center of Marawi City.12 At one point, President Duterte even blamed
the Meranao people, the predominant Moro tribe residing in Marawi, for
“allowing the terrorists in the city”. President Duterte declined requests of
local traditional leaders to hold a dialogue with the Maute group and, instead,
used the incessant aerial bombardment that has been destroying the city.13

Indiscriminate aerial bombardments targeting Marawi forced many

Meranaos from the city and its nearby towns to flee their homes. According
to the Internally Displaced People (IDP) Assessment Report of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the number of IDPs
due to the Marawi Crisis reached 359,680 individuals on July 22. While
94% of the IDPs were with host families in nine (9) regions, around 21,000
individuals were distributed in 78 evacuation centers.14

Crammed inside evacuation centers, the displaced Meranaos confronted a

plethora of problems: lack of food and drinking water, unsanitary conditions,
and spread of diseases. Most children were not able to go to school. And
with all the discomfort and feeling of helplessness, the Integrated Provincial
Health Office of Lanao del Sur reported on August 1, 2017 that at least 30,
732 evacuees have manifested mental health disorders.15
12 Los Angeles Times. “Filipinos watch in horror as their city is destroyed in fight with Islamic State affiliate.” 07 July 2017. http://www.
latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-philippines-marawi-airstrikes-2017-story.html. Accessed 12 October 201
13 Inquirer.net. “Duterte chides Maranaos for letting in ‘corrupt ideology’ of ISIS.” 07 June 2017. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/903484/
duterte-chides-maranaos-for-letting-in-corrupt-ideology-of-is. Accessed 12 October 2017
14 Protection Cluster Philippines Org. “Armed Confrontations and Displacement in Marawi (AFP vs Pro-ISIS).” 22 August 2017, www.
protectionclusterphilippines.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/IDPPAR-Marawi-Displacement_Issue-04.pdf. Accessed 24 October 2017
15 World Bulletin. “Mental health crisis hits Marawi evacuees, data shows.” 10 August 2017. www.worldbulletin.net/asia-pacif-
10 ic/192777/mental-health-crisis-hits-marawi-evacuees-data-shows. Accessed 15 October 2017
 The
Red Hunt

Even in evacuation, civilians were not safe from human rights abuses.
Freedom of movement is restricted with the security forces demanding
evacuees not only present their identification cards, but also to present
cedula (community tax certificate). This requirement was difficult due to a
limited supply of cedula, the extra cost of securing one, and the rigorous
background-check by their host local government.16 In her speech
before Congress, Samira Gutoc-Tomawis of the Ranao Rescue Team
detailed the violations faced by the evacuees in the hands of the military:
torture, psychological interrogation and being forced to strip in the
evacuation centers.17

During the first few days of their evacuation from the Islamic City of
Marawi, Meranao women were also subjected to sexual harassment by
some elements of the military following President Duterte’s rape jokes as
he rallied his soldiers to battle the Maute group.18 As residents were forced
to abandon their homes because of the air raids, their houses were also
illegally searched by the military and the police with some even bore the
paint of ‘ISIS-cleared’. However, there were several reports of looting of
properties by the military during lockdown in the city.

Aside from being subjected to physical and emotional abuse, evacuees

claimed that their cultural and spiritual virtues were also violated. These
included being unable to perform their daily prayers due to lack of space,
the lack of water to cleanse themselves before performing a prayer, and the
inability to bury their dead within the day as prescribed by Islam due to
restriction of their movements.19

16 RMP NMR Inc. “National Interfaith Humanitarian Mission 2.” 15-16 June 2017. http://rmp-nmr.org/downloads/2017/08/02/high-
lights-report-nihm-20. Accessed 05 December 2017
17 Lara Tan, CNN Philippines. “Maranao turns emotional as she cites human rights vilations in Marawi.” 22 July 2017. http://cnnphil-
ippines.com/news/2017/07/22/Martial-law-Mindanao-Marawi-human-rights-violations.html. Accessed 17 October 2017
18 ABSCBN News. “Mission finds Marawi women scared of rape by soldiers; military questions report.” 22 June 2017. http://news.
abs-cbn.com/focus/06/22/17/mission-finds-marawi-women-scared-of-rape-by-soldiers-military-questions-report. Accessed 12
October 2017
19 H. Marcos C. Mordeno, Mindanews. “Our human rights are violated.” 27 July 2017, www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2017/07/
our-human-rights-are-violated. Accessed 18 October 2017

11
 Highlight story 1:

Defending the displaced

Despite of the declaration of Martial Law, a group of Meranao evacuees
and victims of the Marawi Siege organized Tindeg Ranao, a survivors
group that called for the lifting of Martial Law, justice for the victims of the
Marawi Crisis, and in the earlier weeks of Martial Law, an end to the aerial
bombardment in Marawi.

They immediately held a protest rally on July 22 in Iligan City, the day the
Senate and Congress were deliberating President Duterte’s request for
an extension of Martial Law in Mindanao. Armed with plackards bearing
messages against aerial bombardment, the victims took turns in expressing
their opinions against Martial Law extension.

It was the first rally staged during Martial Law in an area nearest to the
Islamic City of Marawi. Soon after, the police and the military went to several
evacuation centers and warned the evacuees against joining Tindeg Ranao
and participating in protests, lest they get arrested and sent to jail. The
armed state forces also said that those who will not follow these orders
would not be given relief goods.

On July 24, the day President Duterte will deliver his second State of the
Nation Address (SONA) to the Philippine Congress, Tindeg Ranao again
staged a protest in Iligan City with other groups from neighboring provinces.
Despite of the harassment from the local police—to the point of illegally
detaining some of their colleagues and threats of detaining all participants
citing Martial Law for the arrests1 —they continued their rally presenting
their version of The State of the Marawi Evacuees.

Tindeg Ranao also joined the historic Lakbayan ng Pambansang Minorya,

a caravan and march of various Moro and indigenous peoples’ groups to
Manila, in September 2017 in protest of President Duterte’s Martial Law in
Mindanao and the bombardment and destruction of their beloved city.

1 Panalipdan Youth. “Members of youth support group harassed, detained by PNP.” 25 July 2017. mohr.ph/
members-of-youth-support-group-harassed-detained-by-pnp. Accessed 22 October 2017

12
 The
Red Hunt

Two young women

leaders of the survivors’
group, Tindeg Tanao

The 1st National Interfaith Humanitarian Mission20 by Kalinaw Mindanao

on June 14-15 reported that many evacuees expressed their belief that
state security forces actually have the capacity to neutralize the ISIS-
inspired extremist group without resorting to the use of aerial bombs and
mortar shelling. However, under President Duterte, military airstrikes,
combined with Martial Law, is the military’s shortcut to quell rebellion.

Military rule, rights abuses: From Marawi to elsewhere in Mindanao

However, at the onset of Martial Law, the curtailment of rights was not
solely concentrated in Marawi City and other areas where there are a large
number of Muslims. A marked increase in the number of illegal arrests,
illegal detention, threats, and other rights abuses has also been documented,
mostly in rural areas outside of Marawi—silencing dissent, victimizing rural
poor organizations and community leaders who are known to advance the
social, economic and cultural rights of their respective localities.

20 RMP-NMR Inc. “Highlights of the Report of the NIHM 2.0.” 15-16 June 2017. http://rmp-nmr.org/downloads/2017/06/16/ini-
tial-report-national-interfaith-humanitarian-mission. Accessed 05 December 2017

13
 Checkpoints and curfews were set up, not only in Marawi, but also in
other major areas in Mindanao, prompting a wave of arrests and illegal
detention of civilians.21 Across the island, bombs were also dropped in
Moro and Lumad communities that is not known lair of Maute group. The
targets were farming and indigenous communities resisting expansion of
plantations and extractive ventures.

On May 25, the AFP launched air assaults in Moro and Lumad villages in
President Roxas in North Cotabato and Damulog in Bukidnon, prompting
the evacuation of more than 250 families (more than 1,000 individuals)22.
Other areas bombed by the military were also reported by the national
minorities group SANDUGO, such as the communities in Compostela
Valley, Agusan del Sur and Saranggani.23 Earlier, President Duterte also
threatened to bomb Lumad schools in mineral-rich areas which he tagged
as schools of the NPA that is ‘being used to teach children to rebel against
the government’.24

After the touted liberation of Marawi25 from the ISIS-inspired groups on

October 17, 2017, President Duterte announced that the next military
target is the Abu Sayyaf Group and the New People’s Army26. AFP chief-of-
staff Gen. Eduardi Año then said that despite the Marawi crisis has already
ended, there are still terror threats in other Mindanao areas. He then
divulged that after Marawi, the whole of the armed forces will be focusing

21 Davao Today. “Martial Law in Mindanao covers 17,494 checkpoint operations, curfews in 129 cities.” 30 June 2017. http://davaoto-
day.com/main/politics/martial-law-in-mindanao-covers-17494-checkpoint-operations-curfews-in-129-cities/. Accessed 16 October
2017
22 Davao Today. “Martial Law in Mindanao: HR group records military abuses, HRW says ML increases abuses vs civilians, activists.”
28 May 2017. http://davaotoday.com/main/human-rights/martial-law-in-mindanao-hr-group-records-military-abuses-hrw-says-ml-
increases-abuses-vs-civilians-activists/. Accessed 12 October 2017
23 Bulatlat.com. “Mindanao Martial Law: Minors, students among civilians killed, missing in Marawi.” 13 September 2017. http://
bulatlat.com/main/2017/09/13/mindanao-martial-law-minors-students-among-civilians-killed-missing-marawi/. Accessed 12
October 2017
24 Associated Press. “Philippines: Duterte threatens to bomb indigenous schools.” 26 July 2017. https://www.theguardian.com/
world/2017/jul/26/philippines-duterte-threatens-to-bomb-indigenous-schools. Accessed 12 October 2017
25 CNN. “Duterte declares liberation of Marawi.” 17 October 2017. http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2017/10/17/Marawi-libera-
tion-Duterte.html. Accessed 02 December 2017
26 Pinoy Trending News. “President Duterte declares Liberation of Marawi, announces that NPA and Basilan are the next tar-
get.”https://pinoytrending.altervista.org/watch-president-duterte-declares-liberation-marawi-announces-npa-basilan-next-target/.
Accessed 30 November 2017

14
 The
Red Hunt

on eradicating the NPA with the completion of AFP’s 8,000 new recruits by
November of which the majority will be deployed in Mindanao27. In northern
Mindanao, the 4th Infantry Division immediately deployed new battalion to
fight the NPAs on October 19 in south Bukidnon 28
where campaigns for
land rights of farmers and indigenous communities are notable.

Already anticipated because of his build-up tirades against NPA, Communist

Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the National Democratic Front of the
Philippines (NDFP) , President Duterte issued Presidential Proclamation
360 on November 23, 2017 that effectively terminated the peace process
between the government and the revolutionary group.

With the collapse of the peace process, the President’s all-out war against
the NPA had been unleashed. But Jomorito ‘Datu Imbanwag’ Goayanon,
chairperson of Kalumbay Regional Organization, feared that the war
will impact the lives of many Lumad communities as in the past, and
expressed that this will be used as a blanket authority to target not only
armed revolutionaries, but also Lumad leaders campaigning for ancestral
lands and the right to self-determination29. The Rural Missionaries of the
Philippines-Northern Mindanao Sub-Region (RMP-NMR) Inc also feared
that the Lumad’s mere existence in remote areas will make them a target
for military operations, on top of their assertion of their rights over their
territories that necessarily go against the wishes of the State to take control
of the lands for economic interests30.

On that same day on November 23, Police Regional Office in Northern

Mindanao spokesperson, Supt. Lemuel Gonda, said his office is monitoring

27 PTV4. “Martial stays despite Marawi Liberation.” 18 October 2017. https://ptvnews.ph/martial-law-stays-despite-marawi-libera-

tion/. Accessed 23 October 2017
28 Rappler. “4th Infantry Division deploys new Battalion in Bukidnon.” 19 October 2017. https://www.rappler.com/na-
tion/185843-4th-infantry-division-new-battalion-bukidnon. Accessed 26 November 2017
29 RMP-NMR, Inc. “Lumad leaders convene to discuss collapse of peace talks, activist crackdown in Mindanao.” 08 December 2017.
http://rmp-nmr.org/articles/2017/12/08/lumad-leaders-convene-discuss-collapse-peace-talks-activist-crackdown-mindanao.
Accessed 09 December 2017
30 RMP-NMR, Inc. “Transforming IP communities into human rights citadels.” 11 December 2017. http://rmp-nmr.org/arti-
cles/2017/12/11/transforming-ip-communities-human-rights-citadels. Accessed 12 December 2017

15
 the militant organizations across the region, and is ready to arrest and
charge leaders and members of militant legal organizations whom the state
security forces earlier branded as ‘fronts’ of the CPP31. Gonda tagged the
militant organizations staging rallies on the streets as symphatizers of the
NPA whom the President tagged as ‘terrorists’ and ‘criminals’32.

Subsequently, on December 5, 2017, President Duterte signed a

proclamation declaring the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization as identified
under Republic Act No. 1016833. But the human rights group Barug
Katungod Mindanao expressed anxiety that the proclamation tagging the
CPP-NPA as terrorists could lead to crackdown of activists operating in
broad daylight34.

31 SunStar. “PNP ready to arrest Reds, supporters.” 24 November 2017. http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/lo-

cal-news/2017/11/24/pnp-ready-arrest-reds-supporters-576440. Accessed 27 November 2017.
32 ibid.
33 Rappler.com. “Duterte signs proclamation labelling CPP-NPA as terrorist organization.” 05 December 2017. https://www.rappler.
com/nation/190457-duterte-proclamation-communist-party-philippines-new-peoples-army-terrorist-group. Accessed 06 December
2017
34 Inquirer.net. “Groups fear crackdown after terror tag on NPA.” 06 December 2017. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/950340/crack-
down-new-peoples-army-terrorists-communists-ryan-amper-barug-katungod-mindanao. Accessed 07 December 2017

16
 The
Red Hunt

Members of Tindeg
Ranao calling for a
stop to aerial strikes

17
 Chapter 2

Wounding
the hands
that till
the earth

18
 The
Red Hunt

T he quest for land rights has always been at the heart of the
struggle of small farmers for social justice and democracy in
the history of the Philippines. In the 20th century, there have
been increasingly articulated and organized demands for land and services
forcing the state to enact laws and programs that would address these. This
was the result of committed and consistent work of farmers’ organizations
who see that poverty cannot be eradicated and justice served until the
agrarian sector is developed and the country becomes self-sufficient
especially in rice production which is the staple food of the majority of the
people.

But as some tactical gains in the struggle for land rights are being
subverted nationally, poor farmers have become the subject of many
human rights violations and of counter-insurgency program that has been
used as a blanket authority to attack farmer activists. Perhaps, because at
the core of CPP-NPA-NDFP’s program is promotion of agrarian revolution
and encouraging the vast number of farmers to fight for its realization,
farmers’ organizations are often tagged as members or supporters of the
revolutionary groups. These attacks against farmers further escalated
when Martial Law was declared in Mindanao.

On top of the monitoring of attacks against HRDs working on land rights

conducted by the Mindanao Observatory for Human Rights, the Kilusang
Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) reported that at least 20 farmers1 —many
of them leaders or members of various community farmers’ organizations—
were killed under Duterte’s Martial Law.

Additionally, militarization of communities—under the guise of the latest

counter-insurgency operation ‘Oplan Kapayapaan’—encouraged by the
Martial Law declaration displaces members of farming communities where
campaigns for land rights are the thriving. On October 23, 2017, at least
12 incidents of aerial bombing displaced more than 163 families, including
at least 312 children, in Purok 4 of the hinterland village of Nongnong in

1 NNARA Youth, Uhay Special Issue. December 2017

19
 Butuan City. The community, organized under the Unyon sa mga Mag-uuma
sa Agusan del Norte (UMAN), claimed that the 23rd Infantry Battalion of the
Philippine Army repeatedly launched a smear campaign and vilification that
their community members are elements or followers of the New People’s
Army, thereby making them as legitimate target of attacks.

Threats, harassment and intimidation

Nolie Redondo, chairperson of Balingasag Farmers’ Association (BAFA)

received threats from suspected members of the military on October 5,
2017 in Brgy. San Juan, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. Redondo is active
in campaigns for genuine land reform and the advancement of farmers’
issues. Because of this, the military tagged him and his organization as
being supporters of the NPA.

Men in motorcycles were seen repeatedly passing by Redondo’s residence,

eventually stopping across his house, often harassing her daughter
Michelle. In front of Michelle, they called his father a hard-headed man
and warned her that they will return for him.2

Roger Plana, organizer of the Misamis Oriental Farmers’ Association

(MOFA), feared that he and his family had been under surveillance by
the state forces. Members of the 58th Infantry Batallion of the Philippine
Army (IBPA) went to their house on two separate occassions asking for
his whereabouts and accused him of committing illegal activities and his
supposed connection with the NPA. Plana’s wife disputed this and insisted
her husband is working for a legitimate farmer’s organization.3 Since
October in 2017, they began hearing dogs barking near their house in the
middle of the night and on several occasions, they hear footsteps outside
of their house.

2 Mindanao Observatory for Human Rights. “Chairperson of Farmers’ group receives threat from suspected military men.” 06 Octo-
ber 2017. mohr.ph/chairperson-of-farmers-org-receives-threat-from-suspected-military-men. Accessed 18 October 2017
3 Mindanao Observatory for Human Rights. “Leader of MisOr farmer’s group protests harassment, surveillance.” 02 December 2017,
mohr.ph/leader-of-misor-farmers-group-protests-harassment-surveillance. Accessed 22 December 2017

20
 The
Red Hunt

Saturnino Tambajoyot, Public Information Officer of the Alyansa sa mga

Biktima sa Demolisyon sa Calangahan (ALBIDEC) in Lugait, Misamis
Oriental reported threats and harassment from two men who introduced
themselves as members of the military on December 3, 2017. The two men
said they knew that Tambajoyot headed ALBIDEC and the local chapter
of Anakpawis in joining protest rallies. They also told him that he will be
brought to their ‘boss’ on December 10. The men then pressed him to name
the other members of his organization but Tambajoyot refused to do so.

Tambajoyot received a text message from

an unknown number on December 8.
The text message read that they were
monitoring his activities, and that he
should watch his back. 4

The BTL Farmers’ Association, an

organization engaged in a decade-long
struggle with the Central Mindanao
University in asserting their right to
occupy 517 hectares of land that the
farmers have made productive, cried
intimidation and harassment from the
state security forces. BTL Farmers’
Association is an aggrupation of three
farmers’ groups including the Bukidnon
Free Farmers and Agricultural Laborers
Organization (BUFFALO), Triad
Agricultural Manpower of Rural Active
Workers (TAMARAW) and the Landless
Tillers Inhabitants of Musuan (LIMUS).
Farmer leader Roger Plana

4 Mindanao Observatory for Human Rights. “Leader of displaced fisherfolk threatened by state forces.” 08 December 2017, mohr.ph/
leader-of-displaced-fisherfolk-threatened-by-state-forces. Accessed 22 December 2017

21
 On December 16, 2017, around 22 members of the 8th IB PA in civilian
clothes forced themselves inside the BTL Training Center in Dologon,
Maramag, Bukidnon. The soldiers were looking for BTL chairperson,
Winnie Loable. The previous day, the training center was also visited by
three military men who were looking for Limus head, Evaristo Fortin.

BTL Farmers’
Association leader
Winnie Loable

22
 The
Red Hunt

Illegal arrest, detention and framing-up

Royan Hupayan and Jonathan Clemente, members of farm workers

union Onyon sa mga Yanong Obrerong Nagkahiusan (OGYON) were forcibly
taken from their homes and interrogated at the detachment camp of
Special CAFGU Active Auxillary (SCAA) in Mondum, Mendes, Pangantucan
on November 15, 2017.

The two were fetched from their homes in Mendis, Pangantucan, Bukidnon
by four members of the SCAA, as they are allegedly in the list of NPA
supporters. The two initially refused to go, but were threatened by the
armed State forces that it is Martial Law and they can’t refuse.

At the detachment camp, the two were interrogated separately and

repeatedly by one Sergeant Panganiban. While brandishing his firearms
in front of Hupayan and Clemente, the said officer repeatedly demanded
that the two admit their connection to the NPA. They were told to name
the leaders and members of OGYON and also of the Lumad regional
ogranization Kalumbay. They were also warned against joining any rallies
or trainings with these organizations. The two were held prisoners at the
hands of the military, and were housed in two separate huts and were not
allowed to go out unless being called for another round of interrogation.
They were eventually released the next day.

Angelica Regasajo, an 8-month pregnant woman from Quezon, Bukidnon

was illegally arrested by members of the 8th IB of the Philipine Army on
October 8, 2017.5

Regasajo a 23-year old agricultural worker and a member of OGYON from

Purok 6, Brgy. Merangeran, was forcibly taken by said soldiers under the
command of 2nd Lt. Hackmone Acab. She was accused of having in her
possession of two live catridges of M203.

5. Mindanao Observatory for Human Rights. “8-month pregnant illegally arrested in Bukidnon.” 14 October 2017, mohr.ph/8-month-
pregnant-illegally-arrested-in-bukidnon. Accessed 21 October 2017

23
 Angelica Regasajo of OGYON

Highlight story 2:

Arresting a pregnant woman

in the middle of the night
Angelica Regasajo was already asleep with her younger brother and her niece when she
awoke to a knock at their door in the evening of October 8, 2017. She was sleeping at
her mother’s house in Purok 6, Brgy. Merangeran, Quezon, Bukidnon as her husband
was working in Manila. She was then 8 months pregnant.

When she looked through the door, she saw armed soldiers. They told her they were
looking for her mother, Flora. Flora and Angelica have both been active members of
OGYON. The organization, at that time, was active in the campaigns demanding wage
increase and job security for agricultural workers in the area.

24
 The
Red Hunt

She told the soldiers that her mother was not at home. The soldiers then
asked her to open the door. She did as she was told. The soldiers came
into the house, showing no search warrant. They went inside the rooms
while Angelica and her companions were left in the living room. After about
five minutes, the soldiers left.

Angelica was trying to console her niece who cried during the soldiers’
‘visit’ when she heard again a knock. She saw the same soldiers, again
ordering her to open the door. They again went inside the rooms, but
after a few minutes, they astoundingly ‘found’ live ammunition for an M203
grenade launcher.

The soldiers ordered Angelica to go with them to the Police Station in

Quezon. She initially refused, herself not knowing why the ammunition
was at its alleged location. After threatening to handcuff her, they easily
overpowered the pregnant woman and brought her to a military truck.
The soldiers also accused her husband as a member of the NPA, thus,
his absence.

Fearing for her sister’s life, Angelica’s brother Avie begged the soldiers to
let him accompany her, but they refused. They then took Angelica to the
Police Station in Quezon, Bukidnon where she was detained. A Criminal
Complaint of Violation of RA 9516 or Illegal Possesion was filed against her
by a Pvt. Jolmar Merceder.

Various farmers’ organizations supporting OGYON contributed for

Angelica’s bail of P120,000.00 so she could give birth outside of prison and
wait for her trial. Her husband had to immediately leave his job in Manila to
accompany her. Her mother, and younger brother Avie had to seek refuge
with relatives elsewhere for fear of the military going back to their house.

25
 This incident happened in the wake of an attack by alleged members of
the New People’s Army (NPA) against the Del Monte Company compound
(formerly owned by the Davao Agricultural Ventures in the nearby village
of Manahan.

Alfredo Omandam, 38, a barangay tanod, and a member of OGYON,

was at his house in Pangatuncan, Bukidnon when armed members of the
the Bukidnon PNP Provincial Public Safety Company led by Cpl. Reagan
Amoroso forcibly entered his house at around 7pm and made a warrantless
search on July 19, 2017.

Even if they did not find anything illegal at his house, the policemen then
dragged him to the village plaza. They then accused him in possession of

The family of Alfredo Omandam

26
 The
Red Hunt

bullets allegedly found at his house during their illegal search. He was
eventually taken to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in
Malaybalay City with his wife Amelia. Amelia was released the next day but
Alfredo was illegally detained until today for illegal possession of explosives. 6

Gretchen and Ryan Esperas of Brgy. Cambangon, Valencia City were

illegally arrested by members of the 8th Infantry Batallion of the Philippine
Army and the Bukidnon Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Public
Safety Company on July 12, 2017.

The Esperas are flower growers and regulary sell their produce in Cagayan
de Oro City. They are also active members of the Kahugpungan sa mga
Mag-uuma sa Bukidnon (KASAMA Bukidnon), a farmer’s organization in
the province affiliated with the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.

Around 9pm of the said date, witnesses saw the couple being handcuffed
and dragged away from their house. The police and military claimed that
Gretchen and Ryan were members of the New People’s Army. They were
transported to the CIDG facility in Malaybalay City and charged with
illegal possession of explosives. They are still in prison as of this writing.7

6 Mindanao Observatory for Human Rights. “Baranggay Tanod illegally arrested in Pangantucan, Bukidnon.” 20 July 2017, mohr.ph/
baranggay-tanod-illegally-arrested-in-new-eden-valencia-city.” Accessed 22 October 2017
7 Mindanao Observatory for Human Rights. “Husband and wife illegally arrested, detained in Valencia City.” 14 July 2017, mohr.ph/
husband-and-wife-illegally-arrested-detained-in-valencia-city. Accessed 21 October 2017

27
 Chapter 3

Shooting the
stewards
of Mindanao's
remaining lands
& forests

28
 The
Red Hunt

T he Lumad’s struggle has always been connected to their ancestral

lands. While attacks against indigenous communities are non-stop
in the previous years, the declaration of Martial Law made these
even more vicious. Lumad community members have long been accused of
being members of armed groups, and their mere existence in their remote
territories have made them a target for military operations.

The Lumad comprise about 2.1 million out of the total 6.5 million indigenous
people in the Philippines.1 The term ‘Lumad’ refer to the collective identity of
the 18 ethnolinguistic groups that are not Islamized or Christianized tribes
in Mindanao, namely Subanen, B’laan, Mandaya, Higaonon, Banwaon,
Talaandig, Ubo, Manobo, T’boli, Tiruray, Bagobo,Tagakaolo, Dibabawon,
Manguangan, Mamanwa, Kalagan, Matigsalog, Ata and Mansaka.

Stewarding Mindanao’s remaining lands and forests, the Lumad have

suffered brutal campaigns of suppression so that their land resources
can be utilized for the economic interests of the past colonial rulers. They
were subjected to large-scale land grabbing by the State and multinational
companies for land investments. Living in the hinterlands and frontiers,
they are marginalized in terms of government services including education,
hence few were allowed to represent their political aspirations inside the
halls of congress or in other political platforms.

The election of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, esteemed by many Lumad leaders for
his track record in the promotion and defense of Lumad rights as mayor
of Davao City and as chairman of the Southern Mindanao Regional Peace
and Order Council was seen as providing a positive climate for many
indigenous communities to pursue their struggle. Before occupying the
country’s highest office, Duterte reportedly defended Lumad schools under
attack, even issuing an agreement barring military presence in Talaingod,
Davao del Norte in 2014. He also offered sanctuary among Lumad who

1 National Council for Culture and the Arts. “Lumad in Mindanao.” 16 April 2015. http://ncca.gov.ph/subcommissions/subcommis-
sion-on-cultural-heritagesch/historical-research/lumad-in-mindanao/. Accessed 22 October 2017

29
 experienced threats to their lives and safety. He offered protection for the
Manobo evacuees who sought sanctuary in the compound of the United
Church of Christ in the Philippines in Davao City after having been
displaced due to militarization in their community.

However, a year into his administration, the right to life, integrity, liberty
and security of the Lumad continuous to plummet as reported by the ‘Higala
sa Lumad’ Network in its published report titled, ‘State of Unchange’2. The
Lumad continue to confront cases of extra-judicial killings, illegal arrests
and detention, tortures and other ‘minor’ human rights violations such as
threats, harassment and intimidation perpetrated by state security forces
and various paramilitary groups.

Evidently, President Duterte made a 360-degree turn-around from his

campaign promise to bring change. In his State of the Nation Address on
July 24, he even encouraged bombing of community schools run by CSOs
in partnership with many Lumad communities.

Various cases of enforced displacement took place where militarization

is intensifying. Among these cases of displacements are those of the
Indigenous Peoples in the villages of Diatagon, Lianga and Buhisan in San
Agustin, Surigao del Sur on November 26 due to aerial bombardment and
constriction of community activities, and that of the Banwaon people of
Binicalan in San Luis, Agusan del Sur that prompted to evacuate their
communities on November 20 due to aerial bombardment, strafing and
hamletting. In Bukidnon, the whole Talaandig community—composed of
15 families or 95 individuals—were also forced to evacuate Sitio Tinago,
Brgy. Tagbak in Talakag3 town the very day Martial Law was declared.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) wanted
to convert the Talaandig community’s farms for the National Greening

2 ‘Higala sa Lumad’ Network, ‘State of UnChange’. 08 December 2017. http://rmp-nmr.org/sites/default/files/downloads/STATE%20

OF%20UNCHANGE%20v2.pdf. Accessed 12 December 2017
3 Mindanao Observatory for Human Rights. “Lumad families forced to flee due to Army, CAFGU harassment in Talakag, Bukidnon.”
23 May 2017. mohr.ph/lumad-families-forced-to-flee-due-to-army-cafgu-harassments-in-talacag-bukidnon. Accessed October 15
2017

30
 The
Red Hunt

Program, but turned down the community since they believe is a pretext to
have the Sumifru company get hold of their ancestral land and convert it
to a banana plantation.

The Human Rights Defenders from among the Lumad, who are at the
forefront of the struggle for land against intrusive ‘development’ projects
often suffer the heavy price of defending their lands and their people.

Extra-judicial killing

Ande Latuan, an Umayamnon, was killed on July 6, 2017 by the Alamara

paramilitary group headed by Sammy Diwangan.

Latuan was on his way to the town proper of Cabanglasan, Bukidnon

aboard his motorcycle with one Alang Kaligunan to deliver sacks of corn
for sale. But before Latuan and Kaligunan reached the town proper,
armed members of the Alamara blocked their way along Sitio Miaray and
Mandahican. They were later identified as Mako Santos, Arnel Diwangan,
Bibing Diwangan, Madlit Dagasan and Dawan Mansaluon. Latuan and
Kaligunan had no choice but to stop and alight from their motor vehicle.

Latuan told the armed group that should they intend to kill him, they should
spare the woman (Kaligunan). As soon as he finished uttering his words,
Mako Santos then fired two shots at Latuan, who died instantaneously.

Latuan was at least 30 years of age, and a member of Pigyayungaan, a

Lumad organization in Bukidnon. Pigyayungaan has been actively seeking
justice for the victims of Alamara, who were killed by the group upon the
accusation that they were supporting or conniving with the NPAs. The
group has long maintained a position of protecting the ancestral lands
of indigenous communities against destructive investments that are often
backed by the Alamara, serving as investment security forces.4

4 Mindanao Observatory for Human Rights. “Another Lumad killed in Bukidnon.” 06 July 2017. mohr.ph/another-lumad-killed-in-
bukidnon. Accessed 21 October 2017

31
 Threat, harassment and intimidation

Tagtabulon, an organization of Higaonon people in Balingasag, Misamis

Oriental was vilified by elements of the 58th IBPA and the CAFGU and
its members threatened. Tagtabulon is actively involved in the campaign
for land rights and the right to self-determined development of the
Higaonon communities.

In a meeting in Barangay Kibanban organized by the military on July 17,

2017, Cpl. Fermin Lindahay warned the community members against
joining Tagtabulon and participating in any activity associated with the
organization. He claimed that Tagtabulon, along with the regional Lumad
organization Kalumbay, are ‘backed up’ by the NPA. He further said that
community members who disobey his orders will be ‘added to their list’
and will be charged and imprisoned.5

Boy ‘Datu Mansuladlad’ Amado of Binicalan, San Luis Agusan del Sur
reported that on August 28, 2017, members of the 26th Infantry Battalion
of the Philippine Army showed his pictures to the community, asking for
his whereabouts. The military said that Datu Mansuladlad and other
residents were on their ‘list’ of members of the NPA. The military said that
if these ‘NPA members ’ do not surrender immediately, they will be hunted
mercilessly so they ‘better hide well.’

Datu Mansuladlad believes that these harassment and threats from the
military is linked to Tagdumahan’s strong opposition to mining companies
that want to enter their ancestral lands. The organization also opposed the
implementation of the National Greening Program of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) which they believe is just a
pretext to force them out of their land, imposing tree planting on land that
the indigenous communities farm.6

5 Mindanao Observatory for Huma Rights. “Members of Lumad group experience harassment from military in Opol, Misamis Orien-
tal.” 15 August 2017. mohr.ph/members-of-lumad-group-experience-harassment-from-military-in-opol-misamis-oriental. Accessed
21 October 2017
6 Mindanao Observatory for Human Rights. “Banwaon chieftain threatened, forced to surrender as rebel 19 November 2017. mohr.
ph/banwaon-chieftain-threatened-forced-to-surrender-as-rebel.” Accessed 20 November 2017
32
 The
Red Hunt

Boy ‘Datu Mansuladlad’ Amado

Members of Pangalasag in the town Opol, Misamis Oriental experienced

the same threats. Pangalasag is an organization of the Higaonon families
living in Barangay Bagocboc and surrounding communities. Pangalasag
has been engaged in a long battle for the Higaonon families’ rights to their
ancestral domain in Opol against the energy company ABERDI. With this
had come multiple instances of harassment from the state forces.

On August 12, 2017, around 50 members of the 58th IB PA surrounded

the house of Sonny Payla and asked the whereabouts of two Pangalasag
members—Jolito Babatido, 42, and Roy Ebarat, 48. Mylene Bongcasan,
Sonny’s niece, told the armed soldiers that both men went to Cagayan de Oro.

The soldiers then asked her where are the ‘NPA supplies’ that Babatido and
Ebarat were supposedly hiding. Bongcasan said that she does not know
what the soldiers are asking about.

Seven armed soldiers, including one with a bonnet covering his face,
proceeded to enter the house without asking permission. They searched
inside, throwing things on the floor. After about ten minutes, the soldiers

33
 went out and told Bongcasan to inform Babatido and Ebarat to “be careful”
as they know the two are active in their organization. The soldiers said they
will be back, and then left.7

On October 15, 2017, military forces summoned Pangalasag Chairperson

Joseph Paborada to the barangay hall of Bagocboc and accused him of being
a communist rebel. They threatened to jail him if he does not ‘surrender.’ 8

On December 8, 2017 - two days before the International Human Rights

Day, Joseph’s wife received a text message from an anonymous number.
The sender stated that Joseph and three more Pangalasag members needed
to leave Opol immediately. If not, they will be arrested. It further stated that
their “days are numbered.” 9

Joseph Paborada,
leader of Pangalasag

7 Mindanao Observatory for Human Rights. “Members of Lumad group experience harassment from military in Opol, Misamis
Oriental.” 15 August 2017. mohr.ph/members-of-lumad-group-experience-harassment-from-military-in-opol-misamis-oriental.
Accessed 21 October 2017
8 Mindanao Observatory for Human Rights. “IP leader forced to surrender as NPA rebel.” 16 October 2017. mohr.ph/ip-leader-forced-
to-surrender-as-npa-rebel. Accessed 21 Ocetober 2017
9 Mindanao Obsevrtaory for Human Rights. “Lumad leader threatened anew in MisOr.” 10 December 2017. mohr.ph/lumad-leader-
threatened-anew-in-misor Accessed 22 December 2017
34
 The
Red Hunt

Asilan Batao, Dodong Lampasan, Henry Lacubay and Leo Pangcat, all
members of the Lumad organization Kasilo were illegally arrested in Sitio
Gamot, Brgy. Sta. Filemona, Quezon, Bukidnon on November 10, 2017
by members of the 58th IB of the Philpppine Army. The Ata-Matigsalog
community in Quezon established Kasilo to promote and protect their
rights on their ancestral domains and for self-determination.

The four, farmers and residents of said barangay, were accused by the
military of being supporters of the NPA. The military attempted to bring
their captives to their headquarters in Maramag, Bukidnon. But the
members of the community accompanied their fellow Lumad and attested
that the four are civilians. They informed the military that if the latter
insisted to detain the four captives, then they might as well take everyone
from the village. Frustrated, the military decided to let go of the four.

Illegal arrest and detention

Beyond threats and intimidation, several other Lumad were victimizs of

judicial harassment, characterized mainly by illegal arrest and detention,
and filing of trumped-up charges.

Eleven (11) members of KASILO of the Tigwahanon tribe were apprehended

by members of the 68th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army under
its 4th Division in Sitio Alimpulos, Brgy. Cawayan, San Fernando,
Bukidnon on June 22, 2017, a month after President Duterte declared
Martial Law in Mindanao.

The soldiers conducted house searches, reportedly recovering 15 units of

M16 rifles and live bullets, resulting to the apprehension of the 11 men.
The community, astounded of this outcome, believed that the soldiers
planted these bullets to have reason to arrest the men.

35
 While the ten were later released and turned over to the local police
authorities after the community leaders held a dialogue with the AFP,
Junty Sedom remains detained to this day for an alleged illegal possession
of explosives. Junty is a field worker of the DENR and an active member of
Kasilo (Kaugalingong Sestimang Igpapasindug tu’ Lumadnong Ugpaan), an
Indigenous Peoples’ organization in Bukidnon. Kasilo has maintained its
position against the entry of mining in the ancestral domain of the Manobo
peoples in Bukidnon.10

Romeo Salilu, Rey Lumingsa, and Roger Bayumbong, all members of

Pigyayungaan were illegally arrested by the PNP Bukidnon Provincial Public
Safety Company on August 23, 2017 in Brgy Licoan, Sumilao, Bukidnon.
The three were accused of being members of the NPA and were allegedly in
possession of firearms and ammunition. All of them experienced physical
assault in the hands of the police.

When Bayumbong asked for a search warrant, the soldiers replied that
they don’t need one as it is Martial Law. Lumingsa, on the other hand, was
forced to go with the armed soldiers after the latter threatened to detonate
a bomb that will kill his family. The three, members of Lumad organization
Pigyayungaan, were arrested by the PNP Provincial Public Safety Company
on August 23.

The military has been continuously spreading malicious lies against

members of Pigyayungaan to discredit the organization and justify attacks
against its members. Pigyayungaan has been very vocal in promoting
Lumad rights against expansion of agribusiness plantations at the foot of
Mt. Kitanglad.

As of this writing, all three are still detained at the Provincial Detention and
Rehabilitation Center in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. 11

10 Mindanao Observatory for Human Rights. “11 Tigwahanon individuals illegally arrested.” 26 June 2017. mohr.ph/11-tigwaha-
non-individuals-illegally-arrested. Accessed 21 October 2017
11 Mindanao Observatory for Human Rights. “3 members of Lumad org in Sumilao, Bukidnon illegally arrested and detained.” 24
August 2017. mohr.ph/3-members-of-lumad-org-in-sumilao-bukidnon-illegally-arrested-and-detained. Accessed 22 October 2017
36
 The
Red Hunt

Highlight story 3:

Martial Law and ‘tanim bala’

Eleven Tigwahanon members of the Kaugalingong Sistemang Igpapasindug tu
Lumadnong Ugpaan (KASILO) were arrested and detained on June 22, 2017, a month
after the declaration of Martial Law.

The 11 men were apprehended by soldiers of the 68th Infantry Battalion of the 4th
Infantry Division who were conducting house-to-house searches, all without warrants,
in Sitio Alimpulos, Barangay Cawayan, San Fernando, Bukidnon.

Before the incident, one of the arrested, Junty Sedom and other residents were
conducting reforestation activities as part of the National Greening Program (NGP)
of the DENR in their community. They ceased their activities when armed soldiers of
the 6th IB arrived and posted around the area. The soldiers told them that they were
looking for rebels, and with hands behind their backs, the men were instructed to take
the soldiers to their respective houses.

The soldiers searched each house without having the residents accompany them
inside. After raiding the house of Junty Sedom, one of the men the military had
accosted earlier, the soldiers brought out a set of M16 bullets. The soldiers also told
the Tigwahonons that they found 15 M16 rifles. Sedom and 10 others were arrested
and detained for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

The community decried the accusations and demanded the immediate release of
the eleven claiming the “evidences” or effects found during the search were planted
and introduced by the soldiers. The community leaders held a dialogue with the AFP
resulting to the release of ten Tigwahanons. Junty Sedom, however, was turned over
to local police authorities with charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
He is currently detained in the Provincial Jail in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

This incidence clearly shows that Martial Law has been used as license for the AFP to
attack civilians. Martial Law, however, supposedly does not suspend the constitutional
and civil rights of the people, including the right of civilians to life, liberty and security
in their communities. This misinterpretation of Martial Law has led to the escalation of
human rights violations including the systematic and illegal house-to-house searches
and illegal arrest and detention of Lumad based on planted ‘evidences’.

37
 Alejandro Barluado, Jonas Acosta, Noli Tahudan, Marlon Talatayod,
Julito Otacan, and Joel Trazona, all members of the Banwaon community
Barangay Balit, San Luis, Agusan del Sur were arrested on October 27,
2017 for fake charges of illegal possession of firearms.
All are members of community-based organization Tagdumahan which has
long been targeted by the military because of their vocal assertion of the
Banwaon’s ancestral domain targeted by logging and mining companies12.

Nine (9) members of Pigyayungaan chapter in Cabanglasan, Bukidnon—

one of them is paralysed who can no longer move fast—face trumped-up
charges of frustrated murder, accusing them of an encounter between the
8th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA) and the NPA in said
town last year.13 Among the accused, chapter chairperson Joel Luis, is
a respected leader in the community. He and eight others, however, are
firm in their roots in their ancestral domain and would defend against
pineapple plantations.

The charges were made by 8th IBPA Sgt. Ramie Valle, Pvt Alfie Jauculan,
and Civilian Active Auxilliary members Nilo Bongcahan and Estelito Yawan.
They alleged that the accused were part of the NPA unit that ambushed
the 8th IBPA on March 30, 2017 in Sitio Saluringan, Brgy. Canangaan,
Cabanglasan. Valle and Jauculan were both wounded in said firefight.

The accused deny any involvement on said ambush and insist that they are
civilians. They find it suspicious as well that the accusers executed their
affidavits in September and October 2017, six months after their alleged
involvement in the ambush, and well into the declaration of Martial Law.

12 Mindanao Observatory for Human Rights. “Banwaon rights defenders arrested by military”. 27 October 2017. http://mohr.ph/banwa-
on-rights-defenders-arrested-by-military/. Accessed 03 November 2017
13 Higala sa Lumad’ Network, Katungod Lumad Alert. “9 Lumad leaders face trumped-up charges in Bukidnon.” 14 December 2017.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-GmLeHNuNb0ddASnftPj-C6qF5F-Sb55/view. Accessed 18 December 2017

38
The
Red Hunt

39
 Chapter 4

Other Targets:
Human rights
advocates
& workers

40
 The
Red Hunt

M
embers and staff of organizations directly involved in human
rights work were not spared from harassment and intimidation
from state forces.

Angelie Magdua, staff of RMP-NMR received threatening messages on her

phone on November 19, 2017 from someone who identified her/himself
as a military asset. In these text messages, the alleged asset claimed that
RMP-NMR and its staff are under surveillance. In these text messages, the
alleged asset claimed that RMP –NMR was working for the armed group,
New People’s Army. The asset then asked her to be a “spy” for the military
on the supposed illegal activities of the organization.

The alleged asset also threatened her not to inform her colleagues about
the offer. Claiming that Martial Law is in place, the asset said that they
could easily file cases against her, put her in prison, and do the same to
her family. S/he also insinuated that they could rape her if she does not
cooperate.

Kathleen Cabardo, RMP-NMR’s area coordinator for Bukidnon for the

‘Promoting and Protecting Indigenous Human Rights in Bangladesh and
the Philippines’ (PPIPHR) project, has also reported harassment and threats
from unidentified men on November 21, 2017. PPIPHR is an initiative
of RMP-NMR in partnership with Relief International supported by the
European Union. The project aims at building the capacity of Indigenous
Peoples’ communities to monitor and report human rights violations in
their respective areas.

Four men went to the Cabardo’s house and identified themselves as ‘working
for the government’. They told her father that the Cabardo was working for
the NPA. Her father denied this, and explained that she only does office and
field work. A day before, on November 20, Cabardo received a call from an
unregistered number. However, when answered, no one spoke on the other
line and only background noise could be heard.

41
 Julito Otacan, one of the six HRDs arrested from indigenous group
Tagdumahan in Balit, San Luis, Agusan del Sur on October 27, is also a
field worker of RMP-NMR for the PPIHRP project. They were falsely charged
of possessing explosives and firearms.

RMP-NMR has long been working on land rights ever since it was founded
by the Association of Major Women Religious Superiors in the 1960s. As
the organization has been very vocal in its positions against government
policies that oppressed and marginalized the poor communities, it has
constantly been targeted by attacks from state forces. The organization
has been repeatedly accused of supporting the armed group, New People’s
Army, also active in the remote communities RMP-NMR serves.

Julito Otacan, field worker of RMP-NMR

42
 The
Red Hunt

Wilson Anglao, campaign officer of KARAPATAN-Northern Mindanao

Region also experienced intimidation via phone calls and text messages on
November 12 from an unregistered number on his mobile phone. He heard
four men on the other line, talking alternately on the phone.

They said they were from the military and they knew Anglao’s whereabouts
and activities. They claimed Anglao was a member of the ‘Pulang Samahan’
and the military was out to get him and his comrades. He, according to the
men, had the highest bounty on his head amounting to P500,000.00. They
boasted that the Marines would surely capture Anglao, and when they do,
they will have their time “playing” with him. They also reminded Anglao
that Martial Law was in Mindanao.

43
 Chapter 5

Conclusion

44
 The
Red Hunt

T he terrorist hysteria brought about by the siege of the Maute

group in Marawi City on May 23,2017 justified not only the
incessant military airstrikes that led to massive displacement
of its residents, the destruction of the whole city, and the human rights
atrocities against the Moro people. It was also used to justify attacks on the
rights of the peoples of Mindanao outside Marawi.

The Duterte government repeatedly downplayed and even dismissed reports

that there are human rights violations in Mindanao since Martial Law was
declared. Solicitor General Jose Callida, in defending the re-extension of
Martial Law for the whole year of 2018, said that the claims of abuses
are unsubstantiated because the office in-charge of receiving complaints
regarding human rights violations at the Armed Forces of the Philippines
has not received any complaints.1

However, citing victims from Marawi City alone, Amnesty International has
documented abuses by the Philippine military against civilians including
detention and ill-treatment of fleeing civilians, looting of houses and
killing of civilians and wiping out entire neighborhood due to excessive
military airstrikes.2

In its three fact-finding missions, interfaith group Kalinaw Mindanao

was able to document several cases of human rights violations by the
military including extra-judicial killing, death due to indiscriminate firing
and bombardment, illegal arrest and detention including torture, illegal
searches and looting, as well as massive displacement of residents and
destruction of their houses and properties.

Since the declaration of martial law on May 23 to December 06, 2017,

the national office of the human rights group Karapatan recorded at

1 Tricia Aquino, InterAksyon “Calida: Alleged human rights violations can’t be used to invalidate Martial Law extension” 17 January
2018, www.interaksyon.com/calida-alleged-human-rights-violations-cant-be-used-to-invalidate-martial-law-extension. Accessed 22
January 2018
2 Amnesty International. “Philippines: ‘Battle of Marawi’ leaves trail of blood and destruction.” 17 November 2017. https://www.
amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/11/philippines-battle-of-marawi-leaves-trail-of-death-and-destruction/. Accessed 18 January 2018.

45
 least 29 victims of extrajudicial killings in the Mindanao. Karapatan also
documented 15 cases of torture, 23 victims of frustrated extrajudicial
killings, 58 victims of illegal arrest and detention, 335,686 victims of
indiscriminate gunfire and aerial bombings.3

Martial Law: Fast-tracking plunder of resources in the ‘Land of Promise’

Touted as the ‘Land of Promise’ because of its rich natural resources,

Mindanao is home to more than a half of the estimated mineral wealth
in the Philippines amounting to US$12.6 B. It has the largest reserves of
copper, gold, aluminium and iron, inviting the world’s biggest extractive
industry players—BHP Billiton, Xstrata, Anglo-American, Sumitomo, Rio
Tinto, Unocal, Exxon-Mobile and many others.

Mindanao is the site of the largest pineapple plantations in the country.

Among the world’s largest, Del Monte Philippines and Dole Philippines’
pineapple plantations are mainly spread out in the farmers’ communities
and ancestral lands of the Lumad of Bukidnon and South Cotabato.
The Philippine government is also eyeing Mindanao to become a major
industry player for palm production in the Asian region, even crafting a
10-year program to turn 1 million hectares of land in Lumad and Moro
areas into palm oil states.4 In 2013, the Philippine Palm Oil Development
Council Inc. reported that the total area planted for palm in the country
has reached 54,448 hectares, with Region XIII CARAGA (53%) the largest
oil palm plantation in the country followed by Region XII Socsargen (27%).5

An observer might ask, why is the government insistent to continue placing

Mindanao under Martial Law after the ‘liberation of Marawi’, and amidst
massive protests, legal challenges and reports indicating the brutality of
the military rule?

3 KARAPATAN - National “Martial law meant open season for killings, rights abuses in Mindanao” 06 December 2017, www.karapatan.
org/Martial+law+meant+open+season+for+killings%2C+rights+abuses+in+Mindanao. Accessed 21 December 2017
4 Rappler.com. “PH gov’t budgets P50M for oil palm plantation.” 21 August 2015. https://www.rappler.com/business/industries/247-ag-
riculture/103313-ph-oil-palm-plantation-expansion. Accessed 16 October 2017
5 Inquirer.net. “177,000 ha of Mindanao land eyed for palm oil.” 25 May 2013. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/415303/177000-ha-of-mind-
anao-land-eyed-for-palm-oil#ixzz57NZz41Wo. Accessed 16 October 2017

46
 The
Red Hunt

The answer is obvious: Martial Law is, in essence, fast-tracking the

plunder of resources in Mindanao in favor of the powers-that-be. In
a statement, Sandugo – Movement of Moro and Indigenous Peoples for
Self-determination said that “Indigenous Peoples’ leaders and kin were
massacred to silence the people and let mining corporations, logging and
plantations in the protected lands.”6 The statement was made in response
to President Duterte’s pronouncement that he will open up ancestral
domains to investors, due to the Indigenous Peoples’ communities’ alleged
failure to use these lands. 7

Attacking the first line of defense

Upon looking at the profiles of the victims of Martial Law outside Marawi,
many are HRDs—leaders and members of rural poor organizations who are
active in the movement for land rights, including access to resources and
the right to a self-determined development.

Easily, the government equated the struggle for human rights into rebellion,
and consequently, subverted its definition into terrorist acts. Thus, the Red
Hunt started to unfold. The dictum, “kill one, terrify a thousand,” is at work
here. An attack against an HRD gives a chilling effect to community members
and forces them to submit to ‘development’ projects encroaching their lands.

The situation, most importantly, underscored the fact how the State—the
body which is supposed to protect the HRDs—did not only fail to fulfill its
duties and responsibilities in implementing and respecting the provisions
of the UN declaration on HRDs, but has become the principal assailant
of HRDs. It implemented the military rule in Mindanao that prepared the
field for the systematic attacks against leaders and members of rural poor
organizations and their advocates.

6 Sandugo.org. “It is investors, military and Duterte making trouble in ancestral lands.” 02 February 2018. sandugo.org/statements/
it-is-investors-military-and-duterte-making-trouble-in-ancestral-lands-sandugo. Accessed 07 February 2018
7 Mick Basa, Rappler.com. “Duterte to find investors for ancestral domains” 01 February 2018. www.rappler.com/nation/195043-dute-
rte-find-investors-ancestral-domains. Accessed 07 February 2018

47
 In Northern Mindanao Region, there have been a surge of cases of threat,
intimidation, and judicial harassment (trumped-up charges, arrest and
detention) against leaders and members of rural poor organizations. The
targeted HRDs recorded high among the farmers communities and the
Higaonon and Manobo people from two provinces in Northern Mindanao—
Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon. These are the expansion areas of
Del Monte pineapple plantation (Bukidnon) and the A. Brown oil palm
plantation (Misamis Oriental).

There is a common pattern in the attacks: individual HRDs and the

organization they belong to, as well as the community they serve, are
first vilified as members and sympathizers of the NPA before receiving
threats, harassment and intimidation. These threats intensify until
trumped-up cases are filed by the military and police in court, directly
identifying them as suspects.

A number of those arrested gave stories of how the police and the military
planted explosives and firearms in their houses, while conducting
searches—forcing their way to their houses without warrants. Illegal
possession of explosives is a non-bailable offense that is often used to
charge human rights defenders and activists.8 This is also the charges
filed to known members of NDFP and the CPP.9

Completing the recipe for a military rule and systematic attacks

Before the end of the year, the Duterte administration was able to lay down
the legal basis for the attacks against HRDs, civil society organizations and
administration critics.

8 Campaign Human Rights Activists. “Arrest of UP Clark Students appears to be illegal.” 13 August 2014. http://www.chrp.org.
uk/2014/arrest-of-up-clark-students-appears-to-be-illegal/. Accessed 13 December 2017
9 GMANewsOnline. “Case filed vs. Tiamzon couple for illegal possession of firearms, explosives.” 24 March 2014. http://www.gmanet-
work.com/news/news/nation/353933/case-filed-vs-tiamzon-couple-for-illegal-possession-of-firearms-explosives/story/. Accessed 13
December 2017

48
 The
Red Hunt

While the Philippine Congress approved the chief executive’s request for
an extension of Martial Law in Mindanao, the President released two
proclamations (PP 360 and PP 3374) declaring the NPA as terrorists with
direct orders of shooting them on sight and expanding the identification
of terrorists as those directly or indirectly supporting the NPA and
sympathizing with their cause—feared to be used as a license to attack
even those activists operating in broad daylight.

No matter how the State drumbeats that Martial Law—and the two
succeeding proclamations—is free of human rights violations, the
individual and collective experience of the Mindanaoans from the ground
is entirely opposite: President Duterte’s military rule encouraged more
impunity among state forces to silence any opposition to the government’s
agenda. And the last seven months of 2017 have become an open season
for attacking people’s rights and for hunting down land rights activists
in this island down south of the Philippines perennially punctuated by
poverty and strife.

49
 Chapter 6

Recommendations

50
 The
Red Hunt

T
aking off from the tenets of this Report’s conclusions, the
Mindanao Observatory for Human Rights calls on the Philippine
government to lift Martial Law in Mindanao and allow the civilian
authorities to function and address human rights violations.

Alongside with the military rule in Mindanao, PP 360 and PP 374 should
as well be revoked since these further encourage impunity of the state
security forces in committing human rights violations against legitimate
people’s organizations. Instead of terror-tagging the CPP-NPA-NDF, the
Philippine government should resume talking peace with the Reds. It is
especially true now that both parties—before the termination of the Talks—
had already crafted the draft agreement on socio-economic reforms that
will address the root cause of poverty, under-development and armed
conflict in Mindanao and the rest of the country.

Most importantly, President Duterte should respect the kind of

development the Moro people or the indigenous communities of Mindanao
want according to their ways of life and self-determination—and avoid
disparaging national minorities by associating them with terrorists or as
rebel or rebel supporters because they do not submit to plunder activities
of big corporations, with the backing of the State, in their territories.

Alarmed of the situation of the HRDs in Mindanao working on land

rights, we are encouraging the Philippine government to adhere to the UN
Declaration on HRDs. As such, instead of denying reports of violations, the
Philippine government should:

a. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation on

the cases reported with a view to publishing the results and bringing
those responsible to justice in accordance with international
standards. The government needs to have the perpetrators of
attacks against HRDs accountable.

51
 b. Invite the UN representatives (rapporteurs) to visit the Philippines
and assess the human rights situation in Mindanao and the attacks
against HRDs.

c. Indemnify HRD victims and should refrain from issuing

discriminatory remarks by tagging them as terrorist supporters and
sympathizers.

d. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and

psychological integrity and security of HRDs in Mindanao. This can
include direct orders to the military and police to stop going after
HRDs in the region. Legal charges made against HRDs should be
dropped and those in prison should be released.

e. Assure at all times that HRDs in Mindanao are able to carry out
their legitimate human rights work without fear of retaliations.

52
 The
Red Hunt

Peasant group KASAMA-Bukidnon active

in land rights campaign in the Province

53
 Postcript
Beyond this Report, the red hunt continues, getting more vicious.

Aniceto Lopez Jr, Secretary-General of the Quezon chapter of Kahugpungan

sa mga Mag-uuma (KASAMA)–Bukidnon was shot dead on January 22,
2018 in Purok 3, Paitan, Quezon, Bukidnon by Oto Balopenios, a member
of the Philippine Marines. Balopenios fired at Lopez when the latter was
harvesting tilapia at a fishpond nearby their house.

Lopez, 55 years old and a former barangay councilman, has been active
in various campaigns for the interests of farmers and farm workers not
only in his hometown, but also in the province of Bukidnon. He reportedly
received a call from someone, who according to family members, identified
himself as a member of the Philippine National Police in Quezon a week
before his death, instructing him to “surrender to the Philippine Army”.
He was alleged to be a supporter of the NPA. Disputing the accusations
against him, Lopez refused to heed their instruction.

Arturo Colao, 56, was shot by two unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen

in Puting Balas, Talisayan town on January 25, 2018. The victim was
attending a birthday party when the assailants stopped a meter from
where he was sitting and started shooting. Colao sustained a gunshot
wound on his hip.

Colao is the provincial leader of the Misamis Oriental Farmers Association.

This is the latest of a series of attempts on Colao’s life.

He and his organization is actively involved in the defense of land rights,

particularly in the campaigns against expansion of agribusiness plantations
in his hometown in Balingasag and in other parts of the province.

54
Published with the support of
Lifeline Embattled CSO
Assistance Fund.