Makabayan solons seek House probe on killings, arrest of Tumandok IPs in Capiz, Iloilo

The House Makabayan bloc is calling for an investigation into the killing of nine Tumandok indigenous people's leaders and the arrest of 17 others in a synchronized police and military operations in Capiz and Iloilo on December 30.

The six-member group, led by Bayan Muna party-list Representative Eufemia Cullamat, has filed House Resolution 1449, urging the chamber to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, into the incident.

Western Visayas police chief Police Brigadier General Rolando Miranda had claimed that the nine fatalities were suspected members of the New People's Army who were killed during a simultaneous serving of search warrants against suspected communist rebels in Panay Island.

But the group Pamanggas said the nine fatalities were members of the Tumandok indigenous people who were "unarmed" and "non-combatant," contrary to the claim of government forces that they were communist rebels.

Meanwhile, 17 other Tumandok indigenous people were also arrested --- seven from different barangays in Calinog, Iloilo, and 10 from Tapaz, Capiz. Some of them, according to the resolution, are still missing, and were reportedly subjected to torture.

The Makabayan bloc expressed alarm over these recent killings and arrests of indigenous peoples in Panay amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"These mass killings and arrests of indigenous peoples in Panay, in the middle of a pandemic no less, is highly condemnable, and has no place in society. The brazen killing of the poor and marginalized indigenous peoples is an indicator of the state of human rights in the country as well as the raging impunity that seems to reign over our land," the resolution read.

"It is imperative for members of Congress, as representatives of our people, to defend the rights of our people and check on excesses and violations committed against them. Laws and rules should serve the interest of our people, and should not be weaponized to suppress their rights and oppress them," he added.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), however, insisted that the Tumandok indigenous people who were killed in the operation were part of a terrorist group.

PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana said the operation was conducted after a thorough intelligence investigation.

"Ito po 'yung sinasabi natin na na-infiltrate po kasi ng communist terrorists ang mga grupo ng mga indigenous peoples," Usana said.

"Kahit sa kanilang mga pagpapahayag [na] sila'y mga tribal leaders, when in fact, mismo 'yung mga witnesses na nakakakilala sa kanila [ang nagsasabi] na sadya talagang nasa panig sila ng mga kalaban, mga communist terrorist," he added. 

In the Senate, Senator Leila De Lima also called for an immediate investigation on the killings and arrests of indigenous peoples in Panay island.

"If the reports I received were accurate, the killings were done 'tokhang' style, with State forces barging into their homes at dawn, under the pretext of serving warrants, and eventually killing them because they allegedly resisted arrest," she said. — RSJ, GMA News