[Northern Mindanao Under Siege]

Lift Martial Law in Mindanao

We are writing you to seek support for women farmers from
Northern Mindanao whose families have experienced human
rights violations under Martial Law in Mindanao.

Peasant women Wennie, Lea, Crisa and Lita are here in Manila to
lobby with government offices for the lifting of Martial Law in
Mindanao and resolution of their human rights cases. They are
also seeking to relay to the media and general public their
situation under Martial Law. State forces are intensifying attacks
against civilians and unarmed activists in Northern Mindanao as
Martial Law remain in place in the entire island.

You can invite them to activities, fora, group discussions and

sharing sessions. You can also donate any financial support to
defray the cost of their transportation, secured board and
lodging, lobbying activities and to help in their just cause and
quest for justice. They will be here in Manila until Sept. 22.

They are the ‘wailing wives of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental’ –

they are weeping for justice and accountability. They demand the
urgent and unconditional lifting of Martial Law in Mindanao, the
restoration of peace in their communities and the resumption of
the peace negotiations to address the root causes of the rural
strife and conflict.

High-profile case of vilification and Human Security Act

case

Wennie Udarbe’s husband, Ireneo Udarbe Jr. is the local leader

of KMP Northern Mindanao. Ireneo was arrested and detained for
seven months based on trumped-up criminal charges, they have
11 children. Wennie is also a member of the Misamis Oriental
Farmers Organization whose colleagues were arrested and in
detention.

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Ireneo, along with Lumad leader Datu Jomorito Goaynon were
presented on January 29, 2018 in a press conference by the
Philippine National Police Region 10 as top New People’s Army
(NPA) members. The two were arrested on January 28, 2019 in
Brgy. Patag, Cagayan de Oro City by joint elements of PNP Region
10 and Armed Forces of the Philippines based on a warrant issued
by Judge Emmanuel Pasal of the Cagayan de Oro City RTC Branch
38. They were charged with fabricated criminal charges of
attempted murder, frustrated murder, illegal possession of
firearms and explosives. Udarbe's case was eventually dismissed
and he was released on July 31. Goaynon remain in detention.

A tale of two widows

Lea Palma and Crisa Andoy have become instant widows after
their husbands were peppered with bullets and brutally killed in
the recent spate of attacks in Bukidnon province.

The fields of Bukidnon continue to be drenched in blood with

successive killings of farmer and Lumad.

Nonoy Palma, 57, the chairperson of KASAMA-Bukidnon was

subjected to series of harassment and intimidation before he was
killed. On April 2019, two soldiers from the 56th IBPA identified as
Rex and Dexter sought Nonoy and threatened to arrest him
because he is a suspected NPA member. Nonoy was being forced
to surrender. The soldiers told Nonoy: “Magsurrender ka na
habang hawak pa namin ang kaso mo at di pa napupunta sa pulis
at kahit anong oras ay pwede ka naming hulihin dahil ikaw ay
pinaghihinalaang myembro ng NPA. Nonoy replied to the
soldiers: “Pasensya na po at hindi ko kayo ma-entertain kasi
pupunta ako sa DAR at ipoprocess ang titulo ng aking lupa.”

On June 16, 2019. Nonoy was shot and killed at his residence in
Sitio Malambago San Fernando, Bukidnon. His son who is a minor,
witnessed the killing of Nonoy who died in front of his traumatized
family.

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Crisa’s husband Jeffrey Bayot, 32, a habal-habal driver and an
active member of Kaugalingong Sistema Igpapasindog to
Lumadnong Ogpaan (KASILO), a Lumad and peasant organization
was shot dead on August 11, 2019 at around 5 pm near his
residence at Brgy. Bongbungan, Quezon in Bukidnon. He
sustained two gunshots on his head and one on his torso. His
assailants are believed to be operatives of the 88th IBPA. Based
on the information that reached Bayot’s family, he was killed
because he was an alleged ‘collector of the NPA.’ Insiders also
claim that so-called rebel returnees are obliged by the military to
attack members of progressive organizations to prove their
loyalty.

Lita Dorado was illegally arrested and detained while her

husband was red-tagged as an NPA fighter.

They are all living in danger and uncertainty. The future of their
children and families are bleak.

According to Movement Against Tyranny-Northern Mindanao,

since January this year, 15 farmers, Lumad and activists were
killed in Bukidnon alone. Church workers and even media
personalities in Cagayan de Oro City are being red-tagged and
harassed by state forces.

From March 2018 to January 2019, the Armed Forces of the

Philippines launched no less than 13 campaigns of focused
military operations, or once every month, in the province of
Bukidnon alone. More than 40 farmers and activists have become
political prisoners and are languishing in jails across Bukidnon and
Misamis Oriental.

Other cases of political killings and human rights

violations in Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental:

[KILLING] APRIL 7 - Datu Kaylo Bontolan was killed by

elements of the 3rd IB of the AFP Eastern Mindanao Command
during its military operations in Kitaotao, Bukidnon.

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Datu Kaylo was a Manobo tribal chieftain in Talaingod, Davao del
Norte, a well-known Lumad leader of the Salugpongan community
organization, Deputy Secretary-General of the PASAKA
Confederation of Lumad in Southern Mindanao, and a member of
the National Council of Leaders of Katribu, the national alliance of
indigenous peoples' organizations.

[KILLING] MAY 14 - At around 5:30 pm, Gina Mamentong-

Cabusas, 45, was shot on the highway in Guinoyoran Road, Brgy.
Barobo, Valencia City Bukidnon. Mrs. Cabusas and her brother-in-
law, Armando Cabusas, were on their way home to Guinoyoran
when they were fired at by unidentified motorcycle-riding masked
men.
[KILLING] JUNE 25 - around 8 pm, the corpse of Iquin Jake T.
Tilucan was found at the bridge of Bubonawan, Cabanglasan,
Bukidnon. His body sustained 10 gunshot wounds and his neck
was cut off. According to reports, a color red Bonggo (vehicle)
parked on the said bridge and unidentified men threw Tilucan’s
corpse.
[KILLING] JULY 6 - Joel Anino, 35, member of KASAMA-
Bukidnon, was shot at 6:30 am while he was on his way to his
house in Sitio Mawi, Barangay Little Baguio in San Fernando,
Bukidnon. He died at the Malaybalay City General Hospital.

[KILLING] JULY 8 - Datu Mario Agsab of the Umayamnon Tribe

was shot dead in his home at Sitio Mainaga, Brgy. Iba
Cabanglasan Bukidnon on July 08, 2019 at around 7:00. This is
suspected to be another killing committed by ALAMARA
Paramilitary Group under the 8th Infantry Battalion CAFGUs in
Cabanglasan, Bukidnon.

[HARASSMENT] JULY 12 - 30 soldiers of 89th IBA of the

Philippine Army forced around 50 Lumad residents Malungon, San
Fernando Bukidnon to surrender as rebels.

[HARASSMENT] AUGUST 3 - Soldiers of 1st Special Forces

Batallion in Bukidnon went to Kristin Lim's residence in Damilag
Bukidnon on August 3 at around 8:30 in the evening inviting her

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for "questioning" without providing a valid and clear reason and
without any warrant to support their invites. Lim is a staff of the
Rural Missionaries of the Philippines-NMR.

[KILLING] AUGUST 9 - Alex Lacay, 34, a member of

Kaugalingong Sistema Igpapasindog to Lumadnong Ogpaan
(KASILO) was shot dead in Sitio Pag-asa, Brgy. Salawagan Quezon,
Bukidnon on August 09, 2019 at around 4:00 in the afternoon.

Lacay along with his companion Renard Burgos were on their way
to the public market on board a motorcycle when two uniformed
soldiers asked if they can ride with them. Lacay sustained two (2)
gunshots to the head and four (4) on his abdomen while his
companion was able to get away. The perpetrators of the killings
are believed to be soldiers or operatives of the 88 th IBPA.

[KILLING] AUGUST 23 - Bai Leah Tumbalang, 45, a

Tigwahanon leader from San Fernando, Bukidnon was shot dead
yesterday, August 23 at around 3PM. The perpetrators fired a
bullet to her forehead, killing her instantly. With her death, seven
(7) children instantly became orphans. Bai Leah is an active
member of Kaugalingong Sistema Igpapasindog Tu Lumadnong
Ogpaan (KASILO), a Lumad and peasant organization in the
province.

[HARASSMENT] AUGUST 25 - Members of the Hiniusang Mag-

uuma sa Barangay Blanco (HIMAB) were deceived and threatened
by soldiers of 58th Infantry Battalion Philippine Army to sign a
piece of paper declaring that the farmers are members of
underground organizations and are now “enlightened on the evil
of communism.” One soldier even threatened the farmers: "You
know what happens with rallyists".

The said piece of paper also states that the farmers are
withdrawing their membership from the so-called National
Democratic Front of the Philipines (NDFP) organizations for the
sake of their “desire to pursue the attainment of a peaceful and
prosperous community.” HIMAB is a local organization under KMP-

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NMR. Fearing for their lives and liberty, some of the farmers were
forced to sign the paper.

The farmers went to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) -

Region X office on August 29 to report this latest attack on them,
as the community is gripped with fear. The CHR advised them to
seek help from the local government unit.

[KILLING] SEPTEMBER 7 – Leonides Bacong, 63, was shot by

two unidentified assailants at his residence in Brgy. Little Baguio.
The two men posed as visitors in Bacong’s house where he lived
with his family. Bacong’s wife said the two visitors only told her
husband that they had something to tell him, hence, they were
ushered into the house. After a short conversation, three shots
rang and the assailants hurriedly left. One bullet hit Bacong’s neck.
He was rushed to the nearest hospital but died along the way.
Bacong is a member of Kasama, the provincial chapter of KMP.

[KILLING] SEPTEMBER 16 – at around 8pm, Angelito Marivao,

49, from Purok 3, Mabuhay, San Fernando in Bukidnon shot in the
head by 3 armed assailants, one of culprits was identified as Fidel
Lumasay, a member of the death squad under the 88thIBPA.
According to initial reports, the killer/s boarded a red XRM
motorcycle. Marivao was a member of KASAMA-Bukidnon, and
actively resisting the landgrabbing in Pantaron range.

Brutal attacks against activists and rights advocates continue to

intensify since Martial Law was imposed in Mindanao in 2017.

These incidents add to the long list of abuses committed by State

Forces against farmers in Mindanao, which grew worse with
Martial Law still in place.

We demand that these attacks immediately stop and that justice

and peace in Mindanao be attained. ###

#EndMartialLawInMindaNOW
#StopLumadKillings
#StopKillingFarmers

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#StopTheAttacks

2016-2018 EJKs in NMR according to Karapatan (Peasant-Lumad)

1. Remar Mayantao

2. Rogen Suminao

3. Senon Nacaytuna

4. Makenet Gayoran

5. ElmerDel Rosario

6. Renato Anglao

7. Matanem Pocuan Lorendo

8. Ande Latuan

9. Aniceto Jr. Lopez

10. Emelda Sangquina Allarcus

11. Yandong Menyo

12. Esteban Sr.Empong