Threat to bomb Lumad schools
We denounce President Rodrigo Duterte’s words against our Lumads as they pose serious threat to the already severe human rights conditions of militarization and attacks on schools in Mindanao. What could be worse than an open command from the chief executive against our indigenous people?
President Duterte’s statement has undoubtedly added salt to the wounds of the Lumad people, especially the children and youth whose education have been continuously disrupted by militarization of civilian communities in Mindanao.
Attacks on Lumad schools in Mindanao did not falter, it even intensified especially when President Duterte declared martial law there.
The SOS Network has documented cases of military occupation; threat, harassment and intimidation of student and teachers; destruction of school properties and malicious branding of schools as schools of the New People’s Army.
It has been a practice of the AFP to tag Lumad schools that are critical against mining companies in Mindanao as ‘training ground’ of the communist rebels. But it’s even more alarming because President Duterte is echoing the same baseless accusation and maligning our Lumad schools.
For sure, the President’s statement will embolden attacks in Lumad communities by the elements of the AFP and perpetrate further harassments, and indiscriminately bomb Lumad communities in Mindanao.
During the 2017 people’s Sona, Lumad children shouted “May pera gera, wala sa iskwela” con- demning the state abandonment of Lumad’s education. There would have been no need to establish an alternative school had the government not neglected the education of Lumad children. The government should be ashamed that it is the civil society organizations and the Lumads themselves who have established their own schools even if the AFP is terrorizing them.
We also appeal to the public to unite and defend Lumad schools as President Duterte openly announced his plan to terrorize and bomb schools in Mindanao. We are appealing to the public as well as to the international communities to unite and defend the said Lumad schools.
President Duterte and the AFP should prepare for gargantuan protests amid the plan to continue the genocidal campaign against the Lumad and Moro people.-- Eule Rico Bonganay, secretary general, Salinlahi Alliance Philippines
Pro-Duterte trolls
President Duterte acted like he was surprised when asked in a press conference after he delivered the Sona about the report that his administration spent money for trolls in social media that are defending his administration.
I think Duterte does not really know this operation, if there is any. This must be the work of the people under him, like Martin Andanar and Mocha Uson. It must not have been authorized by him.
I think the operation should be stopped because it is useless. The money should rather be spent on social services.--