International rights group condemns escalating attacks on Philippine IPs

International rights group condemns escalating attacks on Philippine IPs

The Indigenous Peoples Rights International on Thursday raised concern over the “escalating and brutal attacks” on indigenous peoples (IPs) in the Philippines amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement, IPRI denounced the reports on the displacement of Aeta families in Zambales, killing of a Manobo woman in North Cotabato, and destruction of Lumad school in Bukidnon.

“IPRI strongly condemns the series of attacks on IPs communities in the Philippines that affected 659 Aeta families, killed a Manobo woman, and destroyed a Lumad school in just a week,” it said.

IPRI co-director Joan Carling said the attacks are acts of barbarism, discrimination, and gross violation of human rights as concerted actions to silence the IPs from defending their rights.

Citing the report of the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) in June, she noted that the laws protecting human rights and IPs rights in the Philippines are being violated systematically.

“On August 21, members of the 7th Infantry Division (7ID) of the Philippine Army allegedly dropped bombs on Aeta communities, at the mountainous part of Barangay Buhawen, San Marcelino, Zambales,” it said.

“Local peasant and Indigenous Peoples organizations reported that soldiers harassed, physically assaulted, and forced members of the Aeta community to leave after the bombing incident,” it added.

Citing a report from Umahon para sa Repormang Agraryo – Gitnang Luzon, IPRI said three Aeta residents?Witi Ramos, Jepoy Ramos, and Nalin Ramos?were physically assaulted and detained.

One of the victims was reportedly forced to eat one of the soldiers’ feces, IPRI added.

The military already denied the allegations.  Army’s 7th ID Public Affairs Office chief Major Amado Gutierrez said an encounter happened between troops and suspected members of the New People’s Army.

“On August 23, Manobo tribe leader and staunch defender of ancestral lands, Bae Merlin Ansabo Celis, was gunned down and disfigured by four unknown assailants in Magpet Town, North Cotabato,” IPRI said.

She was an advocate for the protection of IPs culture and ancestral domain at her village amid illegal logging and destructive infrastructure projects, the right group added.

“According to reports, she was gunned down while walking with her pregnant daughter on their way to her farm. After shooting her, the assailants brutally slashed her throat and removed her eyes with a machete,” IPRI said.

Aside from these, IPRI also mentioned the destruction of the Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Inc (MISFI) Academy in Sitio Laburon, Barangay Matupe, San Fernando town of Bukidnon on August 26.

Citing a report from Save Our Schools (SOS) Network, IPRI said 50 armed men of Bagani paramilitary group attacked the Lumad school.

IPRI said witnesses saw armed men tearing textbooks and destroying two school buildings and the teacher’s headquarters.

The Bagani paramilitary is under the command of the 89th Infantry Battalion Bravo Company which is encamped in Barangay Kalagangan, San Fernando, a 30-minute walk from the school, the group said.

GMA News Online was contacting the Army as of posting time.

“We are enraged by this series of attacks against Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines,” IPRI’s Carling said.

“ These unabated human rights violations including killings, criminalization, harassment, and destruction of properties of Indigenous Peoples must end,” she added.

IPRI expressed support for the UN OHCHR recommendations for the Philippine government to fully implement the IPs Rights Act, respect Free and Prior and Informed Consent of IPs, and recognize the right to quality education of IP children.

It also called on the Philippine government to implement measures that respects, protects, and fulfills its obligations to uphold human rights, including the rights of Indigenous Peoples. —LBG, GMA News