Sun Star

Thursday, May 08, 2003

Army dares militants to file case

By Kathy M. Villalon


"IF THEY want to file a case, then let them file it."

So says Maj. Oscar Lasangue, spokesperson of the 3rd Infantry Division based in Jamindan, Capiz, reacting to a militant group's plan to file a case against them for alleged human rights abuses.

Karapatan-Panay had earlier said the Army committed human rights violations against the "tumandoks," an indigenous people living in Tapaz and Jamindan in Capiz and Calinog and Lambunao in Iloilo.

Samuel Jaco, the group's spokesperson, said resolutions, calling for a stop to military operations in Tapaz and Jamindan, recruitment of Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) members and for the army to give back to the tumandoks their ancestral land, were sent to the Office of the President.

After a long wait, the government has not still acted on these, Jaco said, "which might lead (them) to file a case against the 3rd ID for their abuses."

Jaco's statement is being supported by representatives from militant groups like Bayan-Panay, Pamanggas and Task Force Tumandok.

But Lasangue said, "If these groups said that there are indeed abuses by our soldiers, then they should complain to the proper authorities and we will investigate them."

"If there is something wrong, we will correct it," he said.

He added, "It's good if they take legal action instead of creating so much nuisance.

The problem with these militant groups is that they instigate revolution from the "tumandoks" by "brainwashing them into complaining."

"The groups who are screaming that we are committing human rights violations should also start questioning the New People's Army (NPA) for their extortion activities. That's a form of human rights violation, too. How come they don't?" Lasangue further said.

Samson Fernando, spokesperson for the Tumandok group, admitted the NPA's strong presence in Tapaz and that some "tumandoks" have already joined the rebel group.

"But this does not mean that all 'tumandoks' are members of the NPA. However, the army seems to think we are one and the same," he said.

In a related development, the Task Force Tumandok has accused the army of attempting to disrupt their forthcoming Tumandok Assembly on May 9 to 11 at the Tapaz Civic Center in Tapaz, Capiz.

Two days before the Tumanduk Asembly, members of the 3ID led by Col. Jeffrey Sodusta asked to talk to Tapaz Mayor Romualdo Exmundo in an effort to stop the scheduled activity, a press release from the group said.

Reports said Sodusta wants to prevent the holding of the assembly and instead, conduct a dialog with "tumandok" leaders.

"We tumandoks are not shunning away dialogues. But based on our experience, there has been no concrete actions on our problems. We have long been campaigning and calling on our officials but they give no solution to our problem," said Tumandok Chairperson Samuel Francisco.

Francisco also added that the assembly is an organizational affair aimed to consolidate the ranks of "tumandok."

"The Philippine Army has chosen this historic occasion to harass and muddle the activity," Francisco said.

The "tumandok" leader also asserted that they have already obtained a permit to hold such gathering. But after 3ID’s talk with Mayor Exmundo, the said town mayor got confused and requested to talk to "tumandok" leaders.

"If the Philippine Army is serious in having a dialogue with 'tumandoks,' they should hold it in the presence of provincial and municipal officials as well as representatives from Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)," said Nilo Arado, one of the coordinators of Task Force Tumandok.

Despite the harassments and such attempts, the "tumandoks" will pursue the legitimacy of their activity.

"If the Army is serious in solving our problemts, they have to stop the militarizations and their human rights violations. They should respect, and return our land. They should also open the road in Sitio Pula, Carbasana in Jamindan, which the Army closed," Francisco


http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ilo/2003/05/08/news/army.dares.militants.to.file.case.html

Friday, August 04, 2006

Recruitment of 500 new soldiers decentralized



CAMP PERALTA, Jamindan, Capiz -- The 3rd Infantry Division is now calling for able-bodied individuals who are interested to join the Regular Force, Philippine Army.

The quota for recruitment of soldiers for 3ID this CY 2006 is increased to 500 soldiers, broken down as follows: 150 for Cebu and Bohol, 150 for Negros and 200 for the Panay Applicants.


http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ilo/2006/08/04/news/recruitment.of.500.new.soldiers.decentralized.html

April 27, 2001

Over 100 delegates to attend KAMACA


ROXAS CITY, Capiz -- More than 100 peasant-delegates from all over the Capiz Province are expected to attend in Kahublagan sang Mangunguma sa Capiz (KAMACA) provincial assembly on April 30 and May 1.

The assembly aims to consolidate the peasant's movement and organizations in Capiz. It also hopes to unite them in various issues confronting the peasants all over the province.

The delegation has already represented 11 out of 16 municipalities of Capiz Province.

Representatives of the indigenous people's organizations found in the hinterlands of Tapaz and Jamindan will also be attending the assembly, said Melchor Asupardo, chair of KAMACA.

"They do not only represent the biggest ethno-linguistic group in Panay but they are also confronting the biggest landgrabbing issue in the whole island," Asupardo added.

To recall, at least 30,000 hectares of ancestral land in Tapaz and Jamindan have been arrogated as military reservation in 1962 by then president Diosdado Macapagal.

At least 24 indigenous communities are affected by wargames and weapons testing activities held within the military reservation.

"The experience of the tumanduk people is by no means an exception,: Asupardo revealed.

Asupardo said, "large-scale mining operations, with military backing, have displaced and threatened the communities found in the mountainous areas of the province."

"The assembly delegates will also participate in May 1 activities to commemmorate the International Labor Day," Asupardo added.


http://members.tripod.com/~sunstardaily/27capiz2.htm