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“Paramilitaries in Mindanao have been terrorizing tribal people, while the military, at best, does nothing.”
“It would have been hard not to notice this forced confinement. There were no armed guards to restrict their movement.”
“Pope Francis, hear our misery and prolonged sufferings. Help us protect the indigenous schools, communities and people in Mindanao."
“Military occupation of civilian institutions and killing of civilians...are unacceptable, deplorable and contrary to international human rights and international humanitarian standards.”
“We believe that no real freedom and peace will prosper in the Philippines if our state forces remain to be the number one human rights violator.”
BULATLAT SPECIAL REPORT:
As “force multipliers” for the Philippine Army, paramilitary groups were also multipliers of its human rights abuses in the past four decades.
“We have no discord, they are our brothers...but when the military armed them, they no longer recognize us as kin. And it hurts, because Lumads are being killed by other Lumads.”
“We are demanding an investigation without the presence of the military because any investigation with their presence is useless.”
“Their murder is the murder of the peoples’ soul.”
Among some 3,000 Lumads seeking refuge at the Surigao del Sur Sports Center, there are two mothers of nearly the same age named Maribel Enriquez. Both seek justice for the plight they are going through because of the military.
“These killings are under the context of the counterinsurgency program which is running short on a deadline.”
“This mining conference’s top sponsors are also the leading sponsors of paramilitary groups that have sown terror across the mine-affected communities especially in Mindanao."
“The apprehension of the two soldiers and one Magahat/Bagani member last September 13 only shows and proves they are connected.”
The three men brutally slain in the rampage by a paramilitary group in Surigao del Sur were laid to rest, amid calls for justice and the prosecution of their killers, suspected of following military orders.
“Knowing Catamco, this is just a scheme to divide us, to use our traditional ways to make us fight against each other.”
“Be assured, my dear friends, be assured again, that you don’t stand alone.”
“General Iriberri, your fellow Surigaonons are being slaughtered in the military’s implementation of counter-insurgency operations.”
The three men killed in Lianga, Surigao del Sur on Sept. 1 were not only principled leaders who spent their whole lives helping others – they were also good, loving fathers.
"We expect the Philippine government to immediately and thoroughly investigate the killings and the involvement of the AFP, and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
“The government needs to make clear that the military, paramilitaries, and the companies that underwrite the projects linked to these human rights violations will no longer enjoy impunity.”
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