This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 19, June 19-25, 2005
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Samar Island in Agony This
is one of those cases when cold figures can heat one up. From February to May
alone, a total of 276 cases of human rights violations were recorded in Samar,
involving the controversial Brig. Gen. Jovito Palparan and his men. This means
76 cases per month, 17 per week or two every day.
Tacloban City – Despite the presence of
soldiers, some of whom even disguised themselves in civilian clothes, the
peasant communities in Paranas, Motiong and Catbalogan, all in the Samar
province, welcomed the members of a church-based fact-finding mission and shared
their ordeals with them. The Interfaith Movement for
Justice and Peace came to Samar, an island in central Philippines, due to
increasing reports of human rights abuses allegedly perpetrated by soldiers
under the army’s 8th Infantry Division headed by Brig. Gen. Jovito Palparan.
Dubbed as “Interfaith
Solidarity Mission” (IFSM), the group provided relief and medical services as
well as interviewed victims and witnesses of human rights abuses in Paranas,
Motiong and Catbalogan from June 6 to 9. Within the period, there
were 76 cases recorded each month, more than 17 per week and more than two cases
per day. The team examined 218
patients from Paranas and 57 patients from Motiong. Among the illnesses
diagnosed were skin diseases, eye problems, ulcers and cardio vascular problems
which, according to the medics, reflect the economic situation in the areas
visited. A total of 461 families
from seven villages in Paranas and four families in Catbalogan received relief
packs. Nightmares for victims Fabillar had reportedly
received threats for airing his grievances to the local media. “Barangay leaders would get
shouted upon by these unidentified armed men claiming that ‘they only respect
and implement orders from the general’; and insist that they must be informed
and/or consulted on practically all matters concerning the community,” it said.
“In essence and in form, it
is martial law at its worst not only in these places that the IFSM visited but
expectedly in every community in Samar that the AFP has marked for
obliteration.” © 2004 Bulatlat
■
Alipato Publications Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.
Interfaith
Mission reports 2 rights violations every day
By Maureen Japzon
Bulatlat
Samar in anguish
At the end of the mission, the IFSM issued a statement, describing the number of
human rights violations in the entire Eastern Visayas, particular in Samar, as
“very alarming.”
In three months, according to the mission, the number of violations had
surpassed the number of cases rights groups and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR)
had recorded for 2004. From February 10 to May 30, 276 cases have been
reported, aside from violations of international humanitarian covenants like the
Geneva Convention.
In just three municipalities, the mission documented 77 incidents, including
cases of harassment, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, illegal
search and seizure, violation of domicile, physical assault, torture and summary
execution.
Fr. Calvin Bugho, OFM, one of the IFSM convenors, revealed during the
post-mission press conference in Catbalogan that the documented cases were just
the “tip of the iceberg." He also said that a lot more cases have to be
verified because many residents fear to speak out due to the "climate of fear"
prevailing in the area.
On the other hand, Dr. Oliver Jimenez, leader of the mission’s medical team,
said, "There can never be a healthy people in Paranas and Motiong and in so many
other communities under the environment of terror and fear…the medical mission
of the IFSM had proved many things: first, the militaritazation is happening in
Samar province and in Eastern Visayas; second, many human rights violations
happening in many forms is being employed and the poor farmers in rural areas
are still wallowing in poverty and deprivation."
According to Rev. Danilo delos Santos, United Church of Christ of the
Philippines (UCCP) North Leyte Conference and IFSM spokesperson, some villagers
even cried upon seeing the mission delegates.
“The IFSM has given them a flicker of hope amidst the inaction and
utter disregard by several of those who have committed themselves to public
service," he said.
In the hinterland village of Sto. Niño, Paranas, the mission said 40 percent of
the total household population had evacuated in the area, leaving farms and
other property behind for fear of military threats and abuses.
Its barangay (village) chairman, Edgar Fabillar, said his constituents fled to
Metro Manila and other barangays. Many had failed to harvest and plant rice
while many carabaos (water buffalo, used mainly for tilling land) were sold at
very low prices, together with other domesticated animals and valuables just to
have cash for their “escape.”
As of this writing, one of Fabillar’s constituents is still missing. He suspects
it was due to military abduction and forced servitude as guide in military
operations. The family of this victim had already sought help from military
authority, but to no avail. The four siblings of the victim are looking for
their parent and are suffering from the state of fear.
Another village chief, this time from an upland barrio in Paranas, was beaten
and tortured by soldiers in front of their officer, a Lt. Manuel.
The victim, requesting that his name be withheld, said in an interview with
Bulatlat that he was tortured for almost a day while blindfolded and
handcuffed at Manuel’s office in Paranas. He said the soldiers wanted him to
admit to being a Bayan Muna (people first) member. He was only released after
saying he was the barangay chapter head of the party-list group.
The victim said he knew Bayan Muna is a legal organization but did not
immediately admit his involvement in the group since the investigators said it
was a “front” of New Peoples Army (NPA).
The same fate happened to the barangay chairman’s companion who also told
Bulatlat that he was twice abducted and tortured by military men along with
several others from Paranas’ different barangays. The first abduction lasted for
19 days. He was brought to an alleged AFP safehouse in Canlapwas, Catbalogan
City, and tortured.
Meanwhile, two barangay councilors from the same area had fled because of fear.
Now only a few families sleep in the barrio proper, the majority preferring to
stay in their farmhouses at night to avoid the military patrol.
The villagers interviewed by the mission members said bonnet-clad military men
armed with high-powered rifles are the perpetrators of the different abuses.
It was evident that local government officials have been stripped of their
authority to govern, said the mission statement.
The initiators and participants of the mission included the Roman Catholic
Diocese of Calbayog, Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), UCCP, Franciscan
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Office- Philippines (OFM- JPIC),
Inter-faith Movement for Justice and Peace and Kalinaw- Sentral Bisayas.
More than 150 delegates from Cebu, Bohol, Metro Manila and religious men and
women in Eastern Visayas joined. Bulatlat