‘Lumad’ protest continues at capitol grounds

Displaced families encamped at the provincial capitol park will stay and bear with their fellow evacuees despite move of some of their relatives to pull them out of the camp by filing a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, their leader said

yesterday, August 3. Sariza Acosta, spokesperson of the evacuees, said relatives of the petitioners will issue statements in favor of the respondents, saying they were not forced, intimidated or coerced to evacuate, contrary to the petitioners’ claims.

Petitioners, Bernie and Arante Calimhay and Reboden Hilogon have filed a writ of habeas corpus petition before Branch 19 of the Regional Trial Court to order the respondents, Acosta and 10 other bakwit leaders, to produce their family members.

The court’s August 1 order directed the respondents “to show cause within five days as to why no writ of habeas corpus shall be issued against them” and further ordered them to bring the petitioners’ family members before the court hearing starts on Wednesday, August 8.

Acosta said they will face the court and file their counter-affidavit supported by the statements of the petitioners’ relatives.

“Dad-on namo sila ug kuhaan sila sa statement nga wala sila gipugos ug gihulga. Natingala man gani ni sila sa gibuhat sa ilang mga bana (We will bring them to court as they said they will issue statements that they were not forced to evacuate),”Acosta said.

Acosta said the petitioners’ relatives stood firm that they will not leave the camp.

“Gipangutana man namo sila kung unsa ilang plano, ang ilang gibarugan nga dili sila mohawa ug dili sila mogawas nga silasila lang (We asked them what’s their plan, they said they won’t leave),”Acosta added.

Acosta blames the military for dividing their members as she claimed that their present evacuation was the worst due to numerous harassment allegedly perpetrated by the state forces.

The evacuees from Sitio Camansi, Banglay, in Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental have been enduring a different living environment by staying in makeshift shelters exactly two months yesterday, August 3.

“Kani ang pinakadugay namo nga evacuation ug kani pud ang pinakadaghan nga harassment kay duna gyud petition (This is the longest evacuation and the worst because of harassment),”Acosta said.

“Gusto gyud sa military nga bahin-bahinon ang prinsipyo sa mga lumad (The military wants us our principles divided),”she added.