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"The special operation in Mamasapano, Magindanao is a U.S. operation from the start."
The death of 44 policemen from the Special Action Forces is not the whole story in the Mamasapano fiasco, there are stories of people in the communities that were attacked.
Three evacuees have died as Lumad communities blame the evacuation to relentless military operations “meant to pave the way for mining” in San Luis town, Agusan del Sur.
Tambuli Mining Company Inc. and Malampay Mining Inc. are planning to conduct an open-pit mining in the area for gold.
A Manobo leader and his son are keeping a tradition passed on through generations: the defense of their ancestral lands.
“With the continuous mining in our communities, the indigenous women and the whole community continue to fight.”
“The people of Mindanao are raging and our resistance grows stronger every day. Leave now, or face the people’s resistance.” – Panalipdan Mindanao secretary general Dulphing Ogan
In Southern Mindanao region alone, the Children's Rehabilitation Center documented at least 41 instances of attacks on both DepEd schools and Lumad community learning centers since 2011.
“The soldiers came and burned our school. They said it was a school of the New People’s Army.” – Epoy, 19, a Manobo from Mindanao
Armed men have killed two Lumads, ransacked a store, started fires, and knocked on houses, in the middle of military operations.
“It is not true that soldiers on the ground are after rebels. They are really after civilians who are protecting their ancestral domains.” – Dulphing Ogan, secretary general of Kalumaran
Indigenous peoples say the call to scrap Ipra is more resonant than ever.
“Instead of protecting the indigenous peoples, the NCIP served as a bridge for the entry of destructive projects.”
The indigenous peoples in the Sierra Madre mountain range and other parts of the country are mounting opposition to the mega structures that threaten to wipe out not only their ancestral homes, but also their age-old culture and identity.
“I see the need to fight because we will lose our life, our livelihood and our culture. We’re doing this for the generations to come.” Arnel delos Santos, secretary general of Balatik
“If States are really in good faith in adopting the UNDRIP and adhering to international human rights standards, why did they not accept and consider our proposal and call for an end to militarization of indigenous peoples and their territories?” – Windel Bolinget, Cordillera Peoples Alliance
"OceanaGold’s operations should immediately be stopped by DENR to prevent further pollution, and should immediately hold these environmental criminals accountable.” – Clemente Bautista, national coordinator of Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE)
“It is evident that government forces had put civilians’ lives at risk and have also hampered the children’s right to education. Therefore, it is just to call for the military to immediately stop their operations in the said communities, and to call for the government to disband the paramilitary groups in the area, particularly the Bagani Forces.” -- Rural Missionaries of the Philippines - Northern Mindanao
“I even attended this press conference and I am active most recently in relief missions for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan),” said Genasque Enriquez.
'The GPH-MILF peace talks seem to only further the political agenda of Aquino and Liberal Party in Mindanao.' -- Amira Lidasan, Suara president
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