STAND FOR TRUTH

Teacher fears military presence in Lumad school in Surigao del Sur

A volunteer teacher at a Lumad indigenous school in Surigao del Sur fears they might not be able to start classes this school year, according to a report on “Stand for Truth” on Tuesday.

Aside from Lumad communities not having means for online learning, “Mar,” who teaches at the Alternative Learning Center for Agriculture and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV), said residents also fear the presence of the Philippine Army in their barangay. He said the 3rd Special Forces Battalion have been in there since May.

“July 11, dumating ‘yong mas maraming tropa. Sila ang nagpo-pondo ngayon, nag-e-encamp sa community. ‘Yon ang dahilan kung bakit natatakot ang mga tao, lalo na hinahanap ‘yong leaders sa community, hinahanap ‘yong teachers, tinatakot na ‘wag suportahan ‘yong mga eskwelahan ng mga Lumad dahil babansagan din silang mga terorista,” he said.

“Pumunta sila sa aming school buildings tapos pinagsisipa nila ‘yong mga pintuan namin. ‘Yong tangka nilang sipain, dala nila ‘yong armas nila tapos pinicturan, vinideohan. Ito ‘yong mga pinangangambahan namin kasi baka kung ano na lang mga kwentong gagawin nila,” he added.

Mar said several students also received verbal and sexual harassments from the soldiers.

Moreover, he said even health protocols amid the pandemic are not being followed by the soldiers.

“Isa pang mahirap doon ‘yong pagha-house-to-house nila. Pinupuntahan nila ‘yong mga tao kahit ‘yong mga elders na very vulnerable sa COVID-19, kinakausap nila na walang face mask. ‘Yong physical distancing, hindi rin nila sinusunod. Pinapangambahan ng mga tao na baka sila pa ang magdala ng COVID-19 sa komunidad,” he said.

Meanwhile, 3rd Special Forces Battalion spokesperson Krisjuper Punzalan said the soldiers are there for a community support program and not encampment.

“These were identified as conflict-affected sitios dito sa Barangay Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del sur. Ang mga IPs natin ‘pag dumating ang government, naiisip nila intruders. Hindi dapat. Ang gagawin natin doon, part of the security sector is to conduct a community support program for information and education drives and campaigns para doon sa mga talagang programa ng gobyerno para sa mga IP community,” Punzalan said.

He said part of their job is to also look for members of terrorist groups. He added they received reports that ALCADEV is being used as a training venue for New People’s Army members.

Meanwhile, Mar condemned the red-tagging by the Army.

“Kinokondena namin ang pagta-tag na terorista sa mga teachers namin, sa mga Lumad leaders at pagsasampa ng gawa-gawang kaso,” he said.

Watch this video to know more. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News