Davao Sur lumad folks, farmers hit Task Force Davao, 39th IB for road blocks, harassment

Davao City --- More than protesting 1,200 Bagobo folks and farmers from Davao Del Sur and North Cotobato were met with road blocks put up by the military on their way here yesterday (March 4) to attend a vigil commemorating the first year death anniversary of Rebelyn Pitao.

The delegation was stopped four times by soldiers manning hastily erected checkpoints at Brgy. Marbel in Bansalan, Crossing Magsaysay in Digos; Sito Patulangon, Sta. Cruz  and by the Task Force Davao upon their descent to Davao City.

“Wala’y laing katuyuan ang mga lumad ug mag-uuma gikan Sta. Cruz kung dili ang pagsinggit sa ilahang katungod nga ipadayag ug muapil sa mga malinawon nga asembliya ilabina sa karong higayon nga ang pito ka mag-uumang lideres gikan sa Santa Cruz  o ang nailhang "STC 7" gipasakaan og mga kaso sa 39th IB – 10th ID,” said Diolito Diarog, Katribu Partylist Coordinator.

Diarog, who was part of the contingent who escorted the lumads slammed the 39th IB and TFD’s military officers manning the COMELEC checkpoints.

Diarog's group was outraged as their members who arrived at Sito. Patulangon, Sta. Cruz, were met by around ten military elements, on full battle gear.

“Ang kalaban sa militar dili ang mga sibilyan, dili ang mga yanong lumad ug mag-uuma.  Ang dakong gubat nga unta atubangon sa military, mao ang mga terorista sama sa mipatay kang Rebelyn Pitao, sa akoang tiyuhin nga sa Datu Doming Diarog, ug sa libo-libong biktima sa pulitikanhong pagpamatay sa nasud,” said Diarog.

Diarog added that he himself had a heated argument with the Task Force Davao  Commanding Officer who insisted on seeing the permit of the delegation and demanded that all 1200 members of the contingent get down from their vehicles.

“Ang klaro sa nahitabo, ilahang gipalisdan ug gidelatar ang pwersa namo kay kabalo sila nga sila ang maigo sa multisektoral nga mobilisasyon nga nagaduso sa pagpangayo og hustisya alang kang Rebelyn nga biktima sa ilahang Oplan Bantay Laya 2,” said Diarog.

The Obo-Klata leader from Sitio Kahusayan said that justice remains elusive for the deaths of Rebelyn Pitao and his uncle Datu Diarog who was brutally murdered last April 2008.

A big mobilization of 5,000 forces from Davao provinces are set to march through  Davao’s downtown to denounce the harassment and killings of civilians, members and leaders of peoples’ organizations.

To date, there are more than 1,000 victims of extrajudicial killings in the country.#

For reference:
Diolito Diarog
KATRIBU PARTYLIST COORDINATOR