Association of Major Religinus Supeytors in the Philippines. we ‘toe datarsn this report have been gathered snd pre pared by the Associatich of Major Religious Superiore of ‘Wen and Vowmn, The roport ie tased on doounented, infor : me mation, Should there be any conrestions ty be’mte, we : would like you to call our attention to thea, To reprints included {n this imme axe given informationis . causa an do not necessarily reflect any opinion of the Association. ‘Ag Major Supetiore, ve have the responsibility to make docisions that affect our works and the Livoa of the religious vnter our care, Tt is very saportant therefore that ve havé as much information as possible on various subjects that affect our apostolates of evangelization ani haan developaent. AMRSNP. AMR MPS , 21 Mesh 2915on to 6 im Ampar' ¥ -: ‘ ce SMovember 1974 Lt vet oF data and fnfommation "being gathered and ciroulatéd ty the Association of Religious Men and Woaen has been an invaluable source for reflection on our apostolate, Without this contiming data ve vould have Little basis for refection on "the Sige of the tee" am enantio ty the task of Svangrl ization todays ©” “At NASA's requent, these data and information are now being nade avaflable to our Bishops and Social Action Dizectors, We thank those responaitle — for gathering tho data for thoi paitetaking effort, as well ae thon vho iro réaponsitle for their ise tribution, SF (9pi.), + JULT0'X, LABAYEN, OcD, D.D, ' MASSA, Rational Director oz the 8 At the special meeting of tho Church-Mili tary Liaison Comm Jamary 1995 military anked’the Church group to trust“ a eee ‘and make a report on torture. ‘They else exclt ti panel of investigators. Seventy-four days have no report har been prygonted to. the re of the ows iteme have been published, but these do not constitute on torture, > Many questions remain ‘unanswered. How? When? vhom? By vhom? Are there really only ‘twelve guil mumerous other cases reported before Pr, Bdloio de 14 Mo: his open letters been foxgottan? Iv it possible that the twelve ohazgod arc scapegoats? Orare their reputations of such an peccable character that they will easily be acquitted ami the | question of toxtuxe be dropped? Following the principle of comand) responsibility, should not highor authorities, especially those who vehemently denied the reality of torture, now resign in embarasshent and disgrace?Jang ob suge se VARLOVS REPORT Toe aT Mazon 1975 = > NER OF WIT AND eee Saket, Bem SmDOND | ON THE CASE OP abo ¥ mr. DE TA TORRS, 6YDy ETAL « witht “PANEL, ASKED 70 AP dig oN 170 FROME OE es gaa mm fee coe DSEPAIWED COUPLE FILE | « COMMER-AFEIDAVIT OH TORTURE 5 sso es sr + s we-comrmbeD DAVAO RAPE, FIVE ENS ‘TORTURED AMD KIUIED IM COLD BLOOD. « «+ 4s + 6 iis Vice MUbbOAIOA sy «boast alg pelos 18 WMO 18 YOUR GO. 1 eee eee ee eee ‘DEATH IN BOENO'S MAGE WO TING As estes FRIES? RELATES CASE OF TANDGRARING, AND OER CRIES AGAINST MANOR: -APISIAIS YOR JUSTICE . ~ %. SERMON ON THE POVER OF RHE JOYS == CORAM FACOMMUNICAMDIS swe een vee O PLAMEER WRITE? BASOLOD SY COMMENTATOR TN, DEVENS OF AMRSP SUGKE STUDY see eee CURISTIANS ATR SUPPORT FOR RELIGIOUS ADMINISTRANORS OF BACOOD SCHOOLS . ss eyes OP “TRCORRIGIBIAS" AND SUGLR WORKERS POR JUSTICE: AMOR CASE 2 eas 35 WECROS SISTERS "CALLED ‘UPON 70 RESPOND WITH MORE CONSCIOUSNESS”; TD ACT OM A FROPORAL «ses + 57 BACOLOD SQUATTESS PETIDION CITY MAYOR [0 STOP EJBCIMENT; « SEEX SECURITY OF TENURE A Tt RELOGATIGN SIME PTRST. seeeeesWe es tM A wt ‘ Date +: March 11, 1975 ‘Time + 4200 p.m + Place 1 Sister Formation Institute 214M, Domingo, Quezon City Mesibers Present: Bioop Felix Peret, D. Bahop Simeon Valerio, 81D, D.De Bishop Cirtlo Almario, D.D. Fr, Lope Castillo and Sr, Christine Tan submitted position papers on tho nature and purpose of the two associations, what they hope from the bishops, and the relationship betveen the Catholic Bishops and the ARSP, The bishops asked whether the Association was an organization of Teligious congregations ‘or of individual major superiors. Fr. Semel Wiley, S.J., canon lawyer, was asked to come to make clarifications, ~ Pr, Wiley explained that the asecoiation was officially created at the instigation of the Holy See through the Sacred Congregation of Religious for the purpose of united action, Therefore membership in the asscolation is compulsory for all religious congregations although the sescciation has no legislative power and cannot interfere in internal affairs of the congregations. Vhether a mjor superior attenis meetings or not, he ig a menber of the association, He has ‘the poral obligation te cooperate with the others for the common good by implementing resolution of the association without infringing on individual conscience, Pr, Wiley also pointed out that religious Cre pear harry should not be seen as adjuncts of the hierarchy, As quasi-independent bodies they are directly responsible to the Sacred Congregation, mot to individual Dishops. Their mission is different from that of the bishops. Religious institutes Imve a prophetic thrust and this has often set in the history of the Church with resistance from the hierarchy, vhich by ite function = to preserve acd safeguard — is not likely to take a prophetic role but to be conservative.‘The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m, Respectfully submitted:three started summing up the affidavits and ite woich had been filed t4on and defense, Only the attorneys of Maria Cristina Verzole and had come ‘Then a legal battle developed between prosecution and lawyers, The principal motion requesting the panel to deoist from investigating the charges against respondents for lack of jurisdiction vas called inconsistent with the decision arrived st during the previous hearing of Jan. 25, This sewsion vas supposed to be for clarificatory questions only. The defense counsel hed failed to file their counter-affidevite as was agreed upon. We can- not just ignore certain rules and regulations, Atty. Jimenes argued that on the Jan, 25 hearing, the counsel didn't know yet the nature of the exhibits and their objectionability. Moreover, only those naterinls that were relevant according to the pfoseoution vere pre~ sented vaile the reat of the records on the accused were withheld the motion had come too late ant vas . It was therefore denied, The defense not intending 2 proceedings further, gave in,Yarious Reports = p. 4 5 ; “On the question of the objectionability of the exhibits pre- sented and the need for the defense to have the entire records on one oviisesaivna, ActeeoRA a ‘Levant to ant were ‘Tel the case any other fecords would first have to be specified before they be produced, of Defense and the Chief of Staff,. The hearing was suspended in the meantime, Within 15 daya the lawyers are requested to file their counter affidavits or supplementary affidavits, after which they will be informe about the date of the next hearing, At this instance Atty, C. Verzole requested that her client, M, Cristina Versola be ullowed to be placed under house arrest considering her physical condition due to the maltreatment sbe hed doen subjected to. The other lawyers felloved with requests for physical and medical examination of their clients who alnost all had allegedly undergone similar treatment before or during the tid of their detention, Afver the session was closed and the people had left the court= room the lawyers stayed: behind with the detainees vhile the crowd outside waited to have « last glimpse of the departing detainees and bid then “see you agnin.”Pt I. ‘EDICIO DE 1A TORRE, et al., Roce ee ee es hese ee EEQUEST FOR SUBPOENA DOORS TEC UN COME NOW rédpondents, by counsel, aid request the Honorable SevntieatingFunel e tein s abpees toes tous tr the Office of the Inspector General, Armed Forces of the Phil! » directing aaid office to appear tefore it at the continuation of’ the preliminary investigation of thie oase net for 15 March 1975 at 9100 o'clock a.m at Hearing Room No, 1, 2ni Ploor, luis P, Torres Hall, Camp Gen. Bnilio Aguinaldo, Queson City, and to produce the entire recon! (in cluding, but not limited to, all affidavits, statements, photographs and other evidence taken from or of respondents) of ite investigation of the acta of maltreatuent ant torture inflicted upon respondents by members of the military in the process of their arrest, inter rogtion, investigation, ani detention. Makati, Rizal, for Quezon City, March 9, 1975.,overt” “Paty, Moy 12274 - ‘EDICIO DE 1A TORRE, et al., Kw ssn Snes eteee ae QBIBCTIONS TO EXHIBITS. COME NOW-the following respondents, by counsel, to wit: 'a) Santiago Alonso; 1) Reynaldo Guillermo; >) Alejandro Arellanos 4) Isabelita Guillermo; c) Flora Corpusshrellano; (xk) Elita Ponoey 4) Pedro de Gueman; 1) Romeo Bayles fe) Virginie Atining; 2) ; f) Agaton Topacio; 2) Tiaoy ') Armando Teng; 0) Lourdes Belo@nay sind n) Ramon Casiples 'p) Apolonia Santiban and to the Honorable Investigating Panel, respeotfully state thats 1. Each and everyone of the above-named responienta objects to a1] affidevite and statements marked as exhibits by the prosecution, except each respondent's ovn individual statement, because insofar as be or she is naped or referred to in said affidavits and state~ ments by persons other than himself or herself, said affidavits and statements are hearsay; and, insofar as he or she ie not naned or referred to therein, said affidavits ani statements are irrelevant, 2, Bach ant everyone of the abovesnamed respondents objects to his or her ovn individual statement, because the statement has been ' obtained by force, violence, threats, and other acts of coercion ant duress or is the proximate remult thereof and, therefore, violatesin said been eutablished bat- tid objecte and each teayondontes end (8) in fact, said objection: WHEREFORE, responients respectfully move the Honorable Investi- gating Panel to strike out all of the exhibits from this case; and 1 to dismiss the charges against them and to cause their immediate release, : Makati, Rizal, for Quezon City, March 9, 1975. FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE GROUP Byt (Sga.) LORENZO M. TARADA Counsel for the Respondents 6th Floor, Consolidated Mines Bldg, Ayala Avenue, Makati, Rizal (Sgt. ) JOSE W. DIOKNO Counsel for the No. 12 Margarita Street Magallanes Village Makati, Rizal (Sga.) JOKER ARROYO Counsel for the Respondents 320 Nativided Building Bacolte, Manila (Sea.) HRICCIO ALMEDA Counsel for the Responients 6th Floor, Consolidated Mines Bldg. Ayala Avenue, Makati, Rizal No, 12 Margarita Street Magallanes Village, Makati, RizalI, MARIA CRISTINA VERZOLA, 20 yeare of age, married, presently detained at Zone 2, Camp Olivas, San Fernando, Pampanga, after being duly sworn to in accoriance with law, depose and say: 1, That T have not at any tine more particuls:ly about or between the month of Septeaber and Deceaber, 1974 or at any time prior thereto, in any manner or aryvhere in the Philippines conspired, confederated, organized, or came into any agreement with anytody to rise publicly and take up arms against the duly constituted Governnent of the Republic of the Philippines for the purposes of renoving from the allegiance to said governaent or its laws, the territory of the Philippines or any part thereof, or any body of land, naval or other armed forces, or of depriving the Frosigent of the Philippines, wholly or partially, of his powers or prerogatives; nor have I by xyself or with others naintained, established, utilized, ani operated in any place in the Philippines for the purposec of carrying out the said conspiracy, safe or underground houses, ard nor have 1 established, maintained, utilized, operated, and employed in conspiracy with others communication network thru personal couricrs or with the use of motor vehicles and other peane organized with others into units or groups whose functions are to recruit members for the expansion of the nemberchip of any unlawful conspiracy, nor have I collected funds for the operation and maintenance expenses of any cotiepiracy to procure equipment including firearms and ammunitions, gupplien, cedicine, foodstuffs, and other materials or the use of amy puch conspitators to ostablish fronts, to wedge an open oF disereet propaganda campaign against, end to discredit, the duly4. That on Decenber 16, 1974 I vent reaidence in Dagupan St., Quezon Tity, I arrived at about 4200 There Was a man in the house vhom I do not know. 5. That I asjed for Elita since she was nowhere visible, This man (I think he is a Visayan from his manner of speaking), asked ne to cone in and claimed Elita.vas sick, as she is in the I asked for Vic, the husband of Elita, and he told me that'be (Vic) ~ was sick also; So I entered to see the pair. The man closed the door ani called on somebody from the mezzanine, A man came down, holding a gan (long) and looking as if he were newly avake, He showed an 1.D, card ond identified himself as a PO, although both vere in vivilian clothes, I 4id not see the contents,of the 1.0.5 6. That they searched my Jacket for something, I vas very angry since Elita wae still nowhere and I did not know what this searching ut. Pinding nothing, they saked me to go up the nessanine I refused to, Then they got angry ani told me I have to or else... When I continued to refuse, they threatened me with their acus, So I went up, They were left downstairs, I threv ay clothes one by one and they inspected these. Still finding nothing of what they were looking for, one (the second man) announced he's coming up. T covered myself with a blanket and permitted him to come up, He asked ne to remove the blanket. ‘When I refused to, he again claimed thin vas necessary. I was getting angrier and angrier to think that they might have subjected Elita (who is pregant) to this kind of treatwent, and also because I did not cee the reason for this searching, Ts ‘That he removed the blanket, made me eit down ani looked closely between my thighs, He was quite rough and I was already crying. Still he found nothing. The Vieayan then cave up the stairs and brought my clothes. They went down and made me dress up alone;i F 3 i 3 7 i ef rit 5 eee i Id fii : Be BE g ion fi E g We ib 4 | i e334 di pita i ri tise pall ville sina Ht ; Z i oe i i g & i i t 7 i : + f é i 3 g be Hi & & i i i EB even 12, That finding the place already dark, theyasked me to transfer under a wulb, Refusing this, they carried me on my two arme and re- seated me, In the process, they removed my skirt, two open and ‘pulled my panties out, I felt hot stubs in ay thighs (I judged them to be cigarette butts), Then gomebody kept on pulling at my public hairs, claiming he will not stop until it balde, if I did not "talk", But I have nothing to say. 13. That then they led me blindfolded still to a place where I * could feel a mt, They made me lie down. They told me to open thighs. Refusing this, two of them held my two feet apart and some- body put his fingers inside my vagina, fe put it twice, 14, That al2 thin tise, I vas crying and shouting for help, The last act that they made, made me very noisy. Presumably fearing scandal, they sade we stand and dress up. Then they made ne eat, They vere displaying a cataup bottle on the.table infront of me, ‘They seemed to intinidate me with it, Iimew what they could do vith that. But ‘they did not use it, . a 15. That three (3) doctors checked my hands ani one of thea wy thighs, Di. Manongas of the Camp Olivas clinic and Dr. Lourdes Falna, a man, skw ay swollen fingers, A doctor from the Inspector General's Office, GH, oaw my hand ond the marks on my thighs‘by any law or Presidential Decrée, 18. That there in absolutely no reason for the military to contime ay detention, ‘IN WITNESS WHERBOP, have herwunto set my hant this 15th day of March, 1975, in the hay I ceaie:diler Philippines, MARIA CRISTINA VERZOLA-RODRIQUEZ SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 15th day of March, 1975, in the City of Quezon City, Philippines. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ARMED PORCES GP THE PHILIPPINES + MILITARY TRIBUNALS Camp General Gnilio Aguinaldo Quezon City -000= MILTTARY COMMISSION. NO. PROPLS OF THE PHILIPPINES, CRIM. CASE NO. ee VIOLATION OF. ARTICLE 136, + versus ~ REVISED PRNAL CODB (ce 10 COMMIT REBELLION), 4S AMEOIDED AND PRESIDENTIAL DECKRE WO. 33, EDICIO TELA TORRE y CAN aline NITZ/RBY/ALVIN/ED, dated 28 OCTOBER 1975 EF Aly . Accused Ree re cee ee x ‘COUNTER -APYIDAVIE I, REYRALDO RODRIQUEZ, 23 years of age, married, presently detained at Coll 2, Zone II, Camp Glivas, San Pernandd, after being duly sworn to in accordance vith law, depose -and eay!Various Reporte = p. 12 credit, the duly constituted government and gain lavaabiding sectors of the Philippine Society nor have I engaged in any other activities in the furtheranse and success of any such tin lawful conspiracy; e 2, ‘That I have not at ay time nor in any manner or anywhere in the Philippines conspired and confederated with anybody to possess, or possess control, have custody, print or publish, distritute or ~irculate, vithout taking up arma or be in open hostility agsinst ‘the covernment, or withput inciting others to the execution of any act of zebellion, handbills, leaflets, posters, and similar mterials Miich incite or tend to incite people to violence, or to disregard, ridicule, defy or ignore and lawful order or act of the government or any of {te officers, or which, ii aqy case tend to undermine the integrity of the government or the stability of the states 3, ‘That T have not done or performed any not by ayeelf or in the company of another or others vhich would constitute any crim punishable by Article 136 of the Revised Penal Code as anended and Presidential Decree No. 33, and Presidential Decree No. 365 4. That on December 16, 1974 in the morning, I was apprehended ty olesenta of 2-2 (IPCZ), MS, NIA, INTO 5. That I came to kmow aftervards that two of the apprehending military men were a certain Sgt. Cayetano Fajardo and one Henry Ratus4 wy soquontly tied my feet, and opened up my po’ shirt, and taking off my shoos and pair of socks; . doxed ne on my left and right side chest, hurting my upper ribs, time to time, the Sergeant hit my head with his fist, making my head bAt the vall. While the Sergeant was doing all these, the Other officer Ratu vas watching, still with hie .45 Pistol aired at me, 8, That they would only stop the manhandling the moment they started looking for my personal things. They took my attache, searched it all over and they tock my Banco Pilipino bank book which was in the attache. They took my wrist watch and my money in cah amounting to more than 7850.00; + 9, That after about on hour, wiiile waiting for other military officers from M2, they Used tactics of threat and harasouent until I was brought to M2 by three (3) military officers headed by Z Lt, Arturo Lonibao; ' ‘ 10. ‘That at M2 Camp Crame, “uezon City, I was brought to the intelligence office by Lt, Lomibao, There I vas met by another officer Lt, Garcia, They wade no ait in a chair, placed at s comer near the desk of a certain captain, There I vas again interrogated ‘by the officers, particulurly Lt, Lomibao and Lt. Garcia; 11, That again, not able to answer their quéstions, the military officers started getting impatient and ge ‘They specifically told me that they (military officers) are ‘two methods--soft approach, and violent approach, Threats and intimidation were said, and at this point the interrogators vere cursing and shouting at me. 12, That the violent manhandling began at M2 when Lt. Lomibao apped me once in the face with a folder he wae then holding. Then e interrogating officers ntood up vhich was a signal for their subordinates to start the violent approach,* Vardoun Reporte - p. 14 . Te be pelle pare lagna Fg Rael mange dh ny chest, stomach, and loin fdr several 90144 wooden penholder (round) at the captain's table and he used this to hit both my He hit my shoulder joints ani shoulder blades to the point that my shoulders were svollen and all over | 15. That at one instance, Sgt. Abalos took ay esophagus with his right hand and squeezed it to the point of me losing my breath; 16. That while I was being maltreated, at first I was mt blindfolded and my mouth was not covered vith anything, \But when I was making noise and all of that, they blindfolded me and put about tvo crampled papere from a waste basket on my souths 17, That an officer was then playing with my moustache, and started pully every hair one ty one, Another took time ir hitting ny testicles, and slightly burning my earlobes with a cigarette; 18, ‘That once I was hit on the loin by a .45 pistol by one of the tornentore; 19, That I lost my conscieusness for about three (3) tines, and they did try getting me up by hitting my head, and barging ay head on the wall; . 20, ‘hat all the while I was tortured, they handcuffed my hands so tight that it hurt my hand and nerves; 21, ‘That I was at M2 about an hour before 12:00 noon on the sane and I was brought to Camp Olivas about 5:30 p.m; my tortured ordeal lasted up to the time they decided to take me to Camp Olivas; 22, That one Sgt. Abalo# tock my wrist watch ani threatened to kill me if ever I'l] say that he (Abalos) took ay watch forcibly, On my way to Camp Olivas I was intimidated that they would kill we if T'11 not talk; 2}, That all ook custodial investigations and inter~ rogations I undervent while in military detention were passed thru by me unler an overpowering fear of ay harrowing experience related above being repeated and suffered anev; 24. That while in detention I eigned whatever statements the nilitezy asked me to sign without any segamd to vhether the state- . nents or ansvers therein nade to appear and attributed to me were really made by we or supplied by the interrogators; «+ Naekoun Reporte = py 15 vciis etetto fe sora oat RR Ss experianoe than ainey : Ste Tia Se ‘Tha oa has eich Geni ShinmDaibias parte oom Ms contadned, sateen tie i itetoree asi 3 t them vere 2 foar that physical violeme vila by or lt amerdtette to certain, questions wil} not be sate eae Ang all of then contained etatenenta n ty ‘the interrogators themselves vhich were nevertheless bd for fear of homeat ipasmiplogn 5 peated Way 2 om 1 Viens WIRREDP, I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of March, 1975, peers tt of Sona CNN) Philippines. "aff iant. * SUBSCRIBED, AND da Sato ete me tin 15h ay of Mae 1975, in the City of Quezon City, Philippines,Various Reports = p16” " 2" : mewn rio wea om mm TTD wo UD BI cold moun LE EAT, ie see morte SH OE SE'S tases sels Mea totlowing 1s © ‘that report and vas sent in by a ‘correspondent who process of taking, these facts vas very elow and a An alledged ¢ of five rebele were shot and killed in cold tiood ty nesBere of the Civilian Howe Defense Poroe of the Muntot= pality of Nabunturan, Davao, Mimitee after, an armed group of FO ‘Aray troopers with the Nabunturan ant rather divest them of their yersonad delongings.and mutilated the: ty ‘This inoident and very common case of torture and brutali here in Mindanao took place on January 17, 1975 at almost 9100 o'clock in the morning ina certain hut at Sitio Handoramog, Bo, Linda, Mabunturan, Davao del Norte. Reports gathered from nearty the site of the incident from anong thone vho vexe brave enough to tel) the facts (a handful of . alledged rebels have one .45 caliber pisto) and vere reating in that hut at around 4100 ofSlock inf early morning. At almost seven in the morning, p fly armed CHDP of nine vas neon coming to the area vhile vonebody was reported to have contacted the local PC Comand of Tagua, Davao del Nerte, (Sitio Handoramog is 10 kilometers axay from Nabuniuran going to the City and between Yabunturen and Tagua in # stretch of around 35 kiloneters,) By alaost 6100 c'olock of the sane morning, an eleventary school teacher near the place of the incident @lained to have heard loud shots. The alledged revels were shot and killed while sleeping, Minutes after, a combined force of PC, Amy and the tiabunturan Police Force cane to divest then of theiz pertonal ‘belongings including their body obvex- ings, and mutilated their bodies beyond recognition. Anide from the common ‘tortures we know, one of the futalitien’ head was blown up vith « ehot gun ("wasak ang ulo") while sn eye of » atother was gouged out, All suffered terrible cute and broken bones. Theix bodies were then secretly brought to the municipality of Mabunturan and nobody can identity thee, And ihepite of the fact that the military "positively" identified eone of them, death certifi were never ingued thea, Only one vas identified, not because he was known to the place nor somebody knew hin (hie face vas also terribly battered) but “because he had with him his ID Cant with hie own photograph though using « fictitious name,gy gi in Ree i E zi i ite i! E | en i ? $ ? z i ai a 5 es er ie fi if ef i 3 8 i BE : $ : F i if i Le His (i ny ag Ee a ibs { i ire 2 i i : sageye ie g5a¥ uf i i £ i i i & i i te if i ‘one of the bodies was brought to Davao City that the news spread around and the relatives of the rest who died t the bodies was clained, the local PO Command hastily buried the bodies in one of the local cemeteries in Tamim, without acvomplishing any legal papers or papers for legality on their turial inspite of the fact that they ponitively identified two of the remaining four, Waked all of then, theirs was.a pauper's birial, The burial place was un~ marked possibly and clearly intended to hasten the disintegration of the bodies to hide the tortures inflicted on the dead bodies and to make it impoesitle for the claimants and other concerned to exhume the body and accord then s Christian buriai. The bodies were not even accorded blessing inspite of the availability of many priesta in the area, Certainly they do this, for one thing to hide from the religious sector the brutalities inflicted on them. of thone who died, the rage of the cemetery, the dxact place of burial, and worst, the least information on the condi tiorf of the bodies their burial. Hovever, those who had seen the pictures could attest to the brutality of the military. Worst above all, the TORTURES were dono vhen they vere already DEAD or even if they were still alive! lle ST NSeaployees, was known dentist in Zamboanga City. ‘fvo months has passed with no of theix vhereatouts ao it is presumed that they are nov dead, Many dead todies of soldiers killed in the nearby islands are brought into Zamboanga City; especially: from Jo! after an ambush, there were 42 bodies brought in, to/a coffin because of lack of coffins, ; ‘There have been many holdups of prominent citizens in City which have occurred in broad dayligit. When held up, people. don’ even want to look at the criminal for this might make him angry and he might kill them; the surrendered Moslens (after a crime), get a gun and then return and abuse other people. In Jolo, there have been a series of kidnappings. One of the victins was the driver of Bishop Smith, OMI, who just disappeared, When Moslems disappear here, -it is attributed to the Army, Inquiries and a follow-up ty the Oblates brought no results, but their concer seens to have stopped the kidnappings for the time being. On February 3, 1975, Jovite Tan, a young widower vith three children was in a tricycle which passed an unmanned checkpoint on the way to Tetuan near the Zamboanga City electric plant (Apex). ‘Then a drunken PC soldier who was in front of @ store, aimed his rifle and shot at the tricycle hitting the passenger in the head and killing hin instantly, The killing was reported to headquarter and the soldier was put in jail but then nothing more was heard about the mtter, despite inquiries,~ | { i l i = i i i i 5 a2 i i te fil me FF gfe f ie = ' * * . * * | ig CSxtomporansous sermon preached by Pr. Arsenio C, Jewena, S.J» at the Malaybalay Catholic Church on , Februasy 23, 1975, with Governor Carlos 0, Fortich at - Perhaps in the recent past you may have asked yourself the question: Why do the Pricnte "interfere" in things not directly spiritual? Why do they concern themselves with such things as the Referendum gnd cases of injustice? : Tf they did not interfere in these things, they would doubtless become popular-=among the exploiters; accepted--anong the rich; secure=-from thé threat of imprisomment; comfortable-=in doing nothing. But your Prieste choaen not be popular, accepted, secure, — comfortable, They do fero” in things not directly spiritual. And why? I will tel] you way: The news ofthe massacre of the Manobue in the ranch of Valeriano Bueno reached us many days ago, At first it peemed only like an im- Personal vewapaper article: with the musber of the people slain, and ‘ames we did not personally knov, Dut then, six days ago, they cane, The survivors came, They a came to my office, Some of then were wounded. You could see the vounds, and examine thes. You could talk © the ourvivors, and listen to them, Then the impersonal nazec all of a gudden became real persons. Bocane pulsating reality. She sanape-t Bots saiees, se, ike wv tee Gall discs, like your mother and your ainters—- She vas also « pother: , as such, she had experienced the joys, the sufferings, the sorrove of being s » The she was carrying vas also you carried} the ‘you left in your bome, when church, And the mother's milk from that voman's breast kind of milk that ve all sucked from our mother's breast. That vonen was ab human a2 everyone of us here tonight. you vent waeVarious Reporte ~ p, 20 ‘21 those natives-thoue Manobos--were everyone of we hans alge os mass - And they were eurvivors of the nagsacre--the ruthless, inhuman ‘nasaacre of the Manobos in the ranch of Yaleriano Bueno, And who were killed? Six bagags vere An 014 man, ‘Two younger men, A six-year-o; a eer Do you know how the baby was ‘The eer feet, and dashed her head against the rocks. eo the’ feety aad dashed ber yong, bendet band againat the Again. And gain, And again, The curvivore of the masoacre said that u intentionally gave them some cow meat, and then accused then o! rustlers, and then opened fire on them, to kill them, and thus scare all the other And nb Ghee Gne--has the right to take the Life of another, No one has the right to kill a mman being, And that is why, when Bonbi Mandac was killed, we all acknowledged that his enemies were wrong in killing his, But then--do you not see, my friends,‘the terrible contrast? hen Mandac was killed, Malaybalay was killed, Malaybalay was shocked, Ven the Manobos in Bueno's ranch were massacred, vas Malaybalay shocia? And why not? Because they, vere “nere” natives? Because they vere rot Christians? Because they were not children of a General?--or was it because they vere NOT RICH, and hence, in~ sft: Von Mandac was killed, the FC, and the Major, and the Colonel, and the Mayor, and the Board Member rushed to the scene to investigate, and to pee to it that justice was done, When the Manobos vere massacred in Bueno's ranch, vho rushed to the scene? Did a Mayor or a Board Member or a Major or a Colonel rush to the scene? And why not? Because they vere “mere” natives? Because they vere not children of 2 Gerpral? Or vas it because they were NOT RICH, and hence, were ineignificant, ny friends, did the Mancboe, the survivors of the ahem: nd to the military? Why did they not run to the oivil goverment? What they needed was protection ant justice, Why aid they mm to the Priest? Why? Usa it because they knew, frou experience, that they could expect neither protection nor justice from any other source?And—-do you still apk vhy Priests “interfere” in things Which ° are not directly spiritual? re F MWe do interfere, because ve are human, And because ve are Ghristion. < : Because we are We can see, And feel. And think, And can I, in the face 0! ‘his bloodshed and suffering, this selfish ness and ruthlessness--do pdthing--and still call myself s man? Because ve are ‘sore God, and love and’nerve Hin in Kis People, eee ae pean ‘the least privileged asong human beings, : And you, ay friends, where is your humanity? How do you: feel, and vhat Will you do about Valerian Bueno and the Manobos? Ani—ay friends ho where is your Christianity 2 zoux Soa? Who 4s the God you vorship--i you the ‘you are to--at every moment of the day? . Yoo~yho de zous Sod? Is 4t Jou Christ? Or in it Marcos?Mr, Roran Salans and I went further on inside the ranch and @ girl about 12 years "Duna patey dinhi? == 0 ama ang men patay?” here? -- Ox, vnere are the dead?). The girl ansvered:, “Ambut lang.” +(Z don't know), “. It was alreaty night, about 10:00 p. Kulasan but I told Rowan‘ Salana that I vou dodies, Roman Salana’ volunteercd to go. fyrther It ys morning When we reached Batay Hill, We sav the PC with the coytoye heading in the opposite direction, 1 shouted an on the vheresbouts of the dead but they did not bother answering nor 4id they vait for us, But we followed after their tracks for sore oF leas tvo hours until we reached Kilusot at 11100 a, i Upon reaching Kilumot, we fount tvo PC sen with three men of ‘the ramoh and the manager, Mr. Narciso Ranea who vas seated while taking informations There we sav a dead man with his abdonen busted and an ear missing. I vas about to take s picture of the’desd man when one of the FC nen named Bddie Cab{llar brought s "Bangkav” (spear) near the boty. I took the picture. 7 After that, I enquired oud from the crowds "Pilaian patay?* (tow sary deud?), ‘The manager ansvered: "Usa ral® (Only one), In response to the quick reply of the manager, I fired another question beck to the crowd; “Makadungog ako nga lima ang 4 Asa man sila?" (I heard there are five dead, Where are they?, — The manager answered: "Wala kami mahibalo kay karon lang kant @inni.” (We don’t know. We just got here.)the firet victims as it is today happening in Cotabato, Lanao del tb rte, Lanao del Sur and Zamboanga del Sur. The Manobos are thinking not dispense justice at all -- "Ulipon kamo sa mga sapiang dautan.” (You are slaves to evil-plotters.) 3 8 I pointed to the manager and asked: "Who are you?" and he answered, "I am the manager of the ranch.” I asked: “Where's the judge? Is there no other better than you to take information on this case? I suppose if I were mt here today, all of®you vill be Holy, Angeles kamo tanan (like Angele you would all be.) Valeriano Bueno vould be holy, Engineer Cueto, holy, you, manager, you would slso be holy and only this man killed would be the criminal," "Do you not know thet in White Kulaman, Manobos are starving because vhat they have planted are eaten by the herd of the Holy man Valorianc Bueno? This worning I found a couple, husband and wile, trembling in cold for they were the’whole night upon the grouni try- ing to protect ten square meters of corn they had planted with their hands from grasing cattle? They ¢o not molest the cattle for they are afraid of the guns of Valerinno Bueno's covboys, TI vill not leave this place until I find the other four bodied, Please look for the other four dead bodies.” alana and a PC started to look around. After ten mimtes, lana found the body ,of a boy about 12 yeare old, dead ty wound through his buck and whose body vas bid ty out branches, The body vas atout ten meters fron the former dead body, Between the tvo bediow sat the manager, on a prominent rock, (Previcus \o the finding of the boy's body, = PC can, Boy Gonzaga, was sitving on @ place less than a meter from vhere the boy's body was found, Opposite him was a covboy: standing with his bolo, ) FC man said: “We are already hungry, Pather!i!" Then 1 answered, aldressing the manager within hearing of the crow3: "Yes, you co because it has been your practice not to bury the dead.”yourselves for you were ‘the ones who ” Further, I vent ons "You may go, but I will etay +111 you bring ‘the cowboys for interrogation." One of the PC men replied: "Yes " But they did not return, T took the chance for thin, sick and desperate, According to them, their camotes are daily fod on by the cattle of Mr. Yaleriano T took a picture plained of the robberies of Mr, Valeriano Bueno. I invited them to (The affidavit of Fr, Teodoro Urrutia, S.J., signed 7th February 1975 at” Malaybalay, Bukidnon, ) When we were living in Dalurong, Kitadtao, our house and all properties were burnt by the cowboys of Bueno. We fled to Kitubo, Kitaotao but there, since livelihood was hard, ve transferred to Maro, \hite Rulaman. last Jamazy 31, 1975, Olipio Cabantao from Kitubo, Kiteotao, vent to our house at Maro to ask for -help for bis kaingin in Kilomot Creek, He said that "tvo days from nov, I would 1ike you to help ne in my Kaingin at Kilomot. Tomorrow, I'l go to Kitubo first to get provisions, February 2nd, f'11 be back. Proceed fron Maro to Eilomot and I*1 weet you there," On the morning of February 2, 1975, my wife, Juliana Manlibangan, our only child and myself, together with Urbano Mansig-anan, his wife, Clarita Mansig-anan and their two children set for Kilomot, At Kilomot ve found Olipio Cabantao already there working and cook- ing cov's meat, We became fearful upon seeing the ment. Urbano Mansig-anan asked Olipio Cebantao: “Asa ka nakakuha ug karne? (Vtiexe did you get the neat?) Olipio Cabantao anavered "that on our ay to Kilomot early in the morning, we met @ cowboy somewhere in Batay Hill, He vas on horsebeck armed vith a rifle."child, Baybayin Mageig-anan, who van yet swimming in the river, We finished lunch at around two o'clock in At around 3:00 p.m., we wore surprised to hear fint Olipio Cabantao dead. ‘Then rapid fires folloved. terror, All our spears, baskets, mate, blankets, cooking utensils and clothes were left behind, sf E EB , ‘While zunning for 1ife, T felt pain on ay back, I felt it with ny hand and found blood, I vent on running tovands Maro. Arriving at my house in Maro, J saw Urbano ani my wife who was aloo hit, Ve stayed in the house for eight days without medicine till fetched ty the Barrio Captain who was ‘ordered by a Sgt. Oche to fetch us, (The affidavit of Tomas Manlibangan, thusbmarked and signed by a witness on the 17th February at Malaybalay, Bukidnon.)and mvc them tributaries, bos Third, one of the sons of Hanblo Portich yet alive, gave such big blows to hie cowboy in Opalom, near’the actual led the next morning. San Fourth, in Panansalan the Yenobos were paying taxes since 1907 in the plece of the actual rancho of Benjamin Quintanar. They vere called by the wife of Carlos Fortich, the father of the actual and were given 20 pesos and told to go out. After two weeke those who resisted were put in jail -- 22 of thes, ‘The Manobos are afraid to testify. , ¢ Firth, there are many Mancbos now in the jail of Malaybalay from * Axoman, Caren, Kibokogan, Liliongan, Cadis, Tosdat, etc. They are in “pei#on because according to the authorities they are rebels, even if no gun at all was found daong then, Sixth, in the rancho of Cafion two Manobos vere killed by hip covboys, : Seventh, ten years ago 140 houses vere burnt by the PO and “the security men of Valeriano Bueno, vho bought the rancho of Titang Fortich, for 90,000.00 pesos and x jeep; and their lands were made part of the said Bueno, in Dalorong,We reached White Kulaman at 10 in the evening and I told my guide, Roman Salana, that I would go back to find the bodies of those five persons. . Vhen we reached Batay Hill, Roman told me that sone others were going ih the opposite direction, We followed them ant sav the horses that they had left behind. I shouted at them, “Asa Me found a man bit by bullets. Ke bad an abdominal vound and f his ears was cut off, Vhen I vas shout to take « picture of the body, a PC mn, by the nase of BAdie Cabillar, brought « bankaw (spear) near the body of the dead mn, I took a picture of this and’ T asked his, "How mary vere Killed?" A nan sitting on an elevated red, “This one only.” I shouted that I Mart that there wore five killed, We answered that he did not mow about this because he hed just arrived on the scene, I told them that the man killed by then was not a criminal because be was one of the 140 families — all victims of the lanigrabbing scheaes -6f Valeriano Bueno, I further told thom that thic dead san was not the ‘only Hanobo that they had killed and that they have been accustomed to killing uch people and not even burying them, In fact, the governor found o akull on that spot hen he was out on a hunting gane last Good Pridaysmuch worried about hen killings in order to bring us food, we were nowhere to be founds - The Manobos went back to 'white Kulaman and reached the place at~ ‘wo in the morning. We shouted at sone Boholanos to give us carn and salt, After eating these, we felt as if we vere new men after not having had food for 28 boure at Batay Hill. ‘Then T’ said mass for’ the Menobos who received ue warnly into their territory, Through the help of an interpreter, I explained to them about Cod, about the Church, -tne Mase and Baptigm. Then we visited their village, I found a videw and her baby who were both very thin. Her hustand died of consusption. 1 asked her if sho had something to eat, even caste, She said that the camote was eaten by the cows of Mr, Bueno. I forgot to relate-here that on the morning of Pebruazy 4 I net & couple ing in the cold. They were lying dovn on thy ground to defend the corn from being trampled ty the cove of Mr, Buena, = - I vas accompanied during my tour of the village by some Manobow who told no of the threst that Mr. Bueno hurled at the natives, He ordered thea to leave the place end if they did not, he wuld ask the PC to arrevt then, He said that he made President Marcos rich and that at any hour, upon his (Nr. Bueno) request, the President would go to his ares, The Manobos alec mhoved me the coconuts thet they had planted h are oo longer theirs, They informed me that the 30 hectares planted to coconuts were grabbed ty the chief of police of Ouitauten, togethot with Barcieo Rausa, They requested we to wait a little while, for I would be able to see the coming of the cows, 1 later on saw 60/oovs coming upon the village. I took pictures of the cows, 5 ‘By Prancisco F, Claver, 8.J. Bishop of Bukidnon {Bishop Claver had been hearing reports that in Maramag, Bukidnon, the MAYOR, ho is suspected of mutter and is feared by all, had been FORCING people to vote their consciences. Bishop Claver vent to Marasrg on March 2, 1975, to give Confirmation, Present in the Ceremonies was the Mayor, Denigon S. Asok, who is also the head of Cursillistas, and Grand Knight of the K of Ci_/. "But the hour will Come -- in fact is already bere -- when true worshippers will worship the Father in epirit ani tmth,” Jn. 4, 23. Christ saw through the woman at the well, despite her denials. God soon the hearts of men — even through their false pretenses. Christ established the Cirurch, a society of men, which camot, like God, read the hearts of nen, nor their inner thougyts. Yet, for all that, He gave this Church the power of the keys; to close or open, to bind or loose, simply from whet she observes in the exterior of wen, And this power resides minly in the Bishops, the hierarchy.of adults. Henceforth you are to act av full-gromChristians. You are to act with uille of your ovn, with minds of yout ov, enlightened by the Spirit whom you are to zoceive, Your duties as Christians ~~ you are to fulfill thea without fours ‘Tus, in the referendun last Thursday, did you vote bectuse of fear or bedause of conscience? After confirmation, you are no longer going to be tutas of anybody, not even of the Bishop, least of all of corrupt politicians who parade as devout cursillistas or knights of Columbus, whether they be myors or governors or presidents. The bishop can excommunicate, He can separate notorious sinners from the community of believers. In modern tines, this power has been used sparingly and I haven't used it yet. But con- sidering the blatant acts of terrorism in the last Referendua, I may have no choice but to use it, whatever position the persons to be excommunicated hold in governhent and society -- or in the Church. Brocmmunication means this, very simply: the excommunicate will not be allowed to be « sponsor at baptions, matriages, confirmations; he will not be allowed to receive the sacraments --.if he doos 10 without first getting his excommumication lifted, it 4a at the risk of making his damation surer} and lastly, when he does, he will hot receive Christian burial, If these are amall things to you, they are not in the eyes of the Church. If T can bless -- I can also do’ the opposite, if there is reason to, and excommunication is a form of gaba. Rather than let the wrath of God descend upon the whole ity decaude of the sin of one man, I would x cug ff that one men and leave hia to the nerey of Cod than expose you all to His curse, I cannot read hearte and thoughts like Chr: t the well, but I can judge external acts, This is enough.in the last referendum. t ‘The time will cone too for those who flaunt the law of God under the pretext of obedience to the law of wen yet in truth are role of prophet well, tnd reuenbor that being a good Christian does not only mean that you can eing de colores‘correctly or wear uniforms of the KCs and CilLe yell, TW also means you must not be a mmerer, & terrorist, 2 wsuser, a hypocrite, Because Christianity ie not only for end worehipping in the Church. It ie also for economics, politics, fonily, sozial- relationships -- for the whole of life, ‘Taio fe what we sean by worshipping the Father in spirit and in truth, Tale 4e what ve mean by confirmation in the faith.‘Various Reporte - p. 32 TY DPRSE OF AMIR SUGAR SIUDY | » . Bacolod City * March 2, Fhe Mr, Primo Esleyer TV 10, Bacolod City * Dear Mr, Esleyer, ‘An T gona you this letter, T foe) that you are fair and sensible enough to read it in your TV program; Won't you? . Ido hope that thie Personal Reaction will pave the vay for the airing of other Adverse reactions to your recent TV programs on Fridays. re While I have nothing to do with that so called "Survey of Living Conditions" in Certain Fares, as occasion has ny Christianity demands -= that I expose certain actuations of a number of fellow planters vhich I myself have encountered aa a Volunteer Worker, bes Indeed, while there are a nugber of who are to be, appreciated for their Nobility of Heart in their dealings with their vorkers, there are still many left in our midst that fall unter the category of "I oles” as terned ty Atty, Armano Guatilo, N.P.8.P., Présidept, and fot just "a fev." I have known of a list of Paras and their corresponding owners who do not pay the minimin wage at all, And recently, in one of those farms where sugar workers live a eub-hunan existence, 3 Littl: children of one lowly worker died, ons after another in 2 weeks tine. Their father being underpaid, could not possibly buy then enough rice; and so, he had his little ones eat cassava instead. Diarrhea remujted, ami with- out SSS nor Medibare Benefits, much less Medical Assistance fros the Master, thove 3 little children die one after another, in 0. short a tine, 7 Fersonally, I wouldn't mind finding workera without SSS nor Vedicare Benefits, provided they are given medical assint- ance by their "Ano," vhenever they need it, But certainly, I do aind, ad T have alvays minded, vhenever I encounter cases of utter heartleseness on the part of our fellow planters, like thove nary cases I have personally witnessed myself at the Provincial Hospital,Various Reporte ~ ps 33 F : : ? : t e : lastly, shall ve not Also’ make use of the Planters Punts paid fox this TV program to better our ovmelves, if we already are con- vinced that ve are doing right; ‘and to lead back those vho are vo be led back in order to save our beloved province from vhat is to come that ie ost dreadfirl, should Injustice and Runan Suffering prevail? Thank youMr. Beleyer, Very Sincerely Yours, (Sgd.) MA, SOCORRO YOLO-TUVILLA . Boleyer kindly suggest that this letter be mimeographed for all the purpose of which letter is to appeal in behalf of our Poor There is no other purpove vhatscever. Thank yous {Te author of this letter vas vo indignant when only the favorable points for the plaftere were read ty the Commentator over the IV, .Seema setae ‘those’ in your Bacolod id depute have ear Rome een een, ful opportunity for all of ue to stand together with our soar ppteoed. sat, weftering ‘brothers Ee gone Way ‘remain unwavering and fully committed te Christ in - ‘ie etsugele for tee oete'of ation, S00 aa lars 2 Spas eescotl lbs nt ita dn Manda, St. KM. Carmelite Arenas, ROS See ee Bes A St. M, Lorenssy ROS ee, wiser ew Sr. Mary Catherine big 2 pave, Sr. Byelyn Coronel, RGS Bigar Valenzuela * \Youimd Lee Sr. M, Julia*Gonsales, Ros Toti Aguasin Pr. Leopold van Vugt, 0.0aim, - Sz. M, Angelite, ROS Sr, Marian Chipeco, ROS Copy furnished: Ie Salle Brothers, Bacolod Benedictine Sisters, Bacolod Afustinian Sisters, BacolodVartoun Reporte - p. 35 cjyihitte stamina as eos aN ree ae veror’ plisht. other cases have 3S"tors Sotts poe ictt 19 Boos? 19thr pow a Ne, Bema, 21 Fobs 1975, pps AI=52e, With the Netional Labor abot Salibticgs Gnecioaten, ORRG! 5 Mais Ae ee ‘ther case filed by a group of Negros against their planters on powodaet ces. This case va oars fe a an located at Vi y Negros Occidental and owed by the spouses Pren- chsco Lopes and Carolina Lopez. Tho complainants aro Nicolas Nicolas x inset Ia Pray Pere beter iri Bawa te polio Perile, Aurelio Perile, Blas Mainay and Loreto Mahinay. Clain is for underpayment. and. separetion, pay. ‘The above~mentioned complainants were permanent laborers in the ha- cienda, their period of employment ranging from 2 to 2) years. Four vers list in 7s, te roo in 19D ‘agreeing a2 follows: a79 - Ps 09 Jisys iyneigte = sr yswoojinys 190 = 173 ~ Wyle te awe te Dey 170) Fi TF eee On ta beptester 1712 wd ye.co thereafter. for wage differentials beyond three years are barred by Law. In efeitos Se Meeks compas fe Seep et ot eae carre were not duly reported with the Social Security System. When they asked for observance of the wuge rates fixed by lex and for coverage with the ‘Ley vere dismineed. On October 10, 1973, they filed their complaint with the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), Bacolod City. ‘The case was docketed a5 Case No. R 553~73 and was assigned to Atty. Manuel Apostol, Labor Ar batritor who conducted the hearing. Inthe meantime, on » the Lopezes filed « complaint for "| ‘ad Court of Victories against the som cities Se aie tines Sede 3 ‘the hacienda on the grow that hela sta zee Topas ei to taal taaie esoon barocn Sithont tha consent: and against the will of the owmers. Many ettenpte ware nate by the Lopabes to. eject foreibly the workers, all without benefit of a court order, Threats and intimidation were em ployed. Tho very area surrounding tin houses of the vorkere were plowed and planted to sugar cane, Lately yer ng po: ear the houses of si S Of it nVartoum Roportin =p. 36. The lopone sbeittos take eftiaet, records of the workers. : Briefly, they aot Laden eet, Soa netnee oveTyala Sar minimum eres ie Samet ran Woen this was refused, they sbandoned their works * n Janusry 27, 1975, the Arbitrator rendered a decision he complaint ‘that comp they wax The decision was elevated on appeal on the following grounds: 1, That there was evidence of abuse of discretion on the part of "ator in deciding the caso; 2, That, the docision was obtained {rough fraud or collusion; and 3s That there wore serious errors in the findings of fact. On the first and seccnd grounds the appellants through counsel; contented that they wore never furnished, cen of a afte ita Cts tdtnesoes of the respondent and there 2 Sion; that despa ° jural due process, he supposed, ckty. and vhuritter of these,cpomechb. fide these cree sean ‘the Arbitrator ancunted to fraud committed ten hp obmgadaame is On tne otecnd, grows be its wondered why_ the cepted too red ~ ‘ceat te clan : fact ‘silerpaveant Tounstances that aaie their dismissal {Liegal. It was shown through the records of the S8S, hei , that indeed, it was only on April 4, » iy that the respondent reported the 385 for coverage = then to a ireation of the atatemont of the workers, ani of the fact that theBP Tl eee 4 = Ra ee. j CONSCTOUSESS"; TO ACT ON A PROPOGAL FOR PERSONNEL OOMATYOIT i K : Februsry 15, 1975 Dear Sisters of the Christian Commnities of Negros, | As your coordinators might have alroady communicated to you there has been 8 proposal that came up in Joint discussion and re— flections after Mother Carnéla's sharing of the bold comuitment ~ she undertook with the other Supériors in the Jantiary 7=12 coftvention here in Negros. As ity leaders we cemot move ap inch, 4f left unsupporter and unenlightened by You dear Sister. quested to study i sisters. You we are request: you'wish us to consider and return it by. by mail or by personal delivery. Please send.in your’retum slips on or before February, 25, 1975+ Thank you and may the God of ‘TRUTH help us all. ” For the Coordinatebe of Negros, (Sete) Sr. Ho Viplota, 0.5.4,= on understanding of the situation of the sugarworkers therefore an expressed support for the NPSW as a christian labor union; ~ endorsing exposure of sisters to the existing condition of sugar workers; ~ sdllingress to relewse religious vio wight sat to works with te nein ooncarn 8 the enuas of i ‘ £ a i In view of what has already been said the proposal is presented a5 follows: Due to the great, task unique to Negros which could only be faced and acted upon if sisters are willing to forget thenselves, embrace the sane orientation or at least be willing to. struggle embracing it; to work hard and pray hard, it is unanimously that: a. An assombly of Negros Sisters be called in due time to assess ‘them of the big work ahead of us in Ni every Sister in Negros and then ask ach sister to whe ther to stay and commit herself to it or go and got to work sonewbore else. This will give us a more realistic picture of our actual working force in Negros. b, Sisters in the Luson, Negros Oriental and Cebu areas could also be briefed of the conditions and demands of the work in Negros and those interested can get into an exposure program before they finally got specific assignment in the ares, c+ Coordinators mect regularly to share one another's burden and to pray and reflect together for more solid course of action and participation.a lip Ahi , fsbe | ab aa 3 a hgh bey bag gales ne i i bd ft le ae eh abe stele il i i a se vit ia Ge alias: S23 ee Toba Ht 3 ae iat MOULD SQUATTINS HERLTIGN QUT WXGR TO STOP (ta potition was signed ty 200 squatters.) Becareay Tileon, ona smote aS Boe 3s Tho relocation sito there havo no proper facilities such sat for Blomentary and High Schdol; 3» Hospitals to stnd our sick mmber of our fanily at Nh, JOD PETITION: a leascr expense and in case of omorgency; 1, Electric therefore, wo squatters of the abovementioned places, do 2. School but: So horeby signed 2. Whorons, » squatters dopand so"much from fishing, picking crabs, and other shell foods which w do not find in relocated areas,SUBSORIBED AND SWORN to before the people this gh day of March, 1975 at Bacolod City, Philippines. COPY FIRNESHED: Ferdinmd E, Marcos Bishop Mariano Gavfola * President of the PiiMippines Chairmen, SCAPS, Manila Maherlika Holly: M AN ILA Col. Jaime Venteo ~ Ramiro Garcia, Jr. Officer In Change, PAHRA Bacolod Housing Authority Manila . * Bacolod City : Archbishop Jaime L. Sin Lechario Gallardo, Jr's Archbishop of Maniie Hog. Beo. Dev. Pourclation Bacolod City . Atty. Rodrigo Paclibar Alfredo Montolibeno, Jr. Pe ee Provineisi Gevemer, Bacolod O87 4s pedro Narquenes . Cole Nolibon Goyena Becolod City P.C, Provincial Oomender, Bacolod City Nogrs Antonio Y, Fortich, D.D. Association of Major ReTigious Bishop of Bacolod Supariors in the Philippines, Manila + 2 8. = «©‘Various Reports = p, 41 freedo-fightere i to his ceaseless efforts to croate an atecsphere of and "exploration" that they were able to weet and discuss the pros ‘and cons of each other's suggestions, + Although the Muslims are an aggrieved party, having lost thousands of innocent civilians afd’ property vorth-billions of dollars, their ‘and forbearance that the talks could be held ons "neutral" ground-and thet rapproacho- nent and reconciliation were possivle only through international mediation, ‘The-Jeddah talks vere not nerely preliminary, but discrimination, victimisation and bloodshedding would not stop just like that. Much remains to be done, und o tug-of-war in negotiations is almost unavoid~ able. Ae expected, the Catholic regise is inflating on its ovn diagnosis of the ills that the once Maslix—dbainated, Philippines has been suffer- ing from, i.o,, a multiplicity of non=political factors, minly economic, ‘The Muslim leaders don't deny this, tut their standi {s that the problem, being religicis, political ant seo: ‘nature, has to be solved in a pracefil way, through consultation and arbitration, milking vay, adequate constitutional provisions to safeguard Muslim life, honour, * culture, property, economic development, and religious and political freeton, They args that since brute force iv being used to suppress the Musline vhoee resistance is building up fn proportion to the intensifi- cation of Goverment operations, an international fact-finding nission should.be sent to Sulu, Basilan, Palawan and Kindanso and be allowed to supervise the implenentation of any peace and reconciliaticn programe. Prom What one knows through overt sources he may conclude that, 1f care and caution are not the vatchworis and the eituation deteriorates in the Muelim territories, the Moro mjahideen may give up all hope of an.ggreed solution ani ask in simple teres for self-determination and complete independence, At this stage, therefore, the very fact that the devirability of a comprehenhive agreewent, based on political as vell asi { tection of Mindanao, Basilan, Sulu and,Palawan froc external ‘threat ond sggressicn shall be the primary duty of the . national guverment, the maintenance of peace and seourity within the area shall pe exslusively under. the Jurisdiction of the autondacus ro government. “Unlike other solonized people," the Front lesders have made it clear, "our people are no longer asking for complete political freegou and independence... (or) for the complete separation of their national homeland... our people are agreeable to maintaining political unity ~ with the Pilipino people." However, they would not compromise their Vasic stant, “as to denand for less would tantanount to giving up our revolutionary gains ani vegeting the future of our people and posterity, which our oppressed people and martyrs, have paid for so dearly vith te ix bYood and lives.” ‘The euthoritien oan harfly dispute the HLF arguent thdt “to build the future unity of the Pilipino people and the Moro-Bangea people upon an attificial and shaky foundation might result only in an illusory peace vhich vill serve the interest of no o & ete SeWe believe the fact ‘that the Philippine on headed. Tel tunes a athe peoblans welgiy manifestation of the Administration's, ‘own that he ie fully aware of the strength of world Muslim opinion yhich hae steadfastly given ite suppoxt fo our cause for which we have struggled ali these yearn, ‘Te world iu witness to the facts that the circumstances, that have brought us to this meeting are too shocking to omimerate. But in the process of these talks, we shall be prepared to mpeoify im- portant detailn which the leadership of the Mozo National Liberation Front feels should be coneidered if we vant to ederge from ‘talks with a solution mutually satisfactory to the-parties in the Lote The tean Jed by we as Chaimasn of the MNLP came to this negotiation convinced that rec{procsl slncerity whali be the basic guideline of our actions,” Por unless we are gilded by this ina in presenting our reepective canon, we believe that any formils des: the grievances of our oppresced people caanct have any lagting effect. , Indeed, St may even lead to greater and, mare catastrophic consequences vith, I aa ture, all of us bere would veek to prevents \lo would Iike to state here that we acknovledge the historle importance of these negotiations, Here vill be decided the fate of, five sillion people who have fallen victins to the nonatrous greed and tyranny of Pilipino colonialism ‘and ite predecessors in our homeland.y It ie our hope thet thie initdsl discussion will iesd ue to a series of pore fruitful disloguee that will eflence the sound ofcentral land, an end to the mass murder of our }» an end to abuses st ‘the dignity and honour of our wonen, an. ‘to wanton” destruction of our ¢ 4 the sucrilege Pacific Stars & Stripes, 14 Mareh 1975, MANILA (UPI), == Nore than one million persons have been forced to flee their homes i seven cities and 11 provinces in the southem Philippines as a result of fighting between governent forces and Moslen rebela, officials said Vednesday, — js i ‘The Social Welfare Department ingued,official figures on refugees in the troubled Mindanao-Suln region for the first tine since the goverment lifted a news blackoit oh the hostilities two weeks ago. © Itt ania it has extended aid tom total 164,778 families consisting _ of 1,009,456 persone in the affected region, The figures shoved that the heaviest concentration of refugees was in Cotabato del Sur Province, 500 miles south of Manila, vith a total of 57,509 displaced families with each fanity estimated to have ix penbers Other main refugee centers were the mijor seaport city of Zamboanga vith 25,515 families and Sulu Province with 23,603 families, The Defense Departrent, in its latest progress report on fighting on Basilan Island, a princips: rubber-growing area 25 miles across 4 channel from Zamboanga, about 600 miles south of Manila, said govern— vent troops repulsed sporadic rebel attacks and inflicted "moderate camalties" on the insurgents: “Tage tee Oe:Rie, MUNA BAN AOR DaNYDG NORWOE TO EMIS j Pacific Stare & Stripes, 10 Maxch 1975 \wTLA (UPI) = PRiLAppine Defense Secretary Juan Ponte Bnrile - left for Jakarta Saturday +0 sign two treaties that would deny Pilipino Moslem rebels Indonesian sanctuaries. xn In tho latest action“in the xebellion-torn Mindansd-Sulu region of the southern Philippines, authorities ot tas forces Cap- tured a rebel veosel carrying ame and amunit ‘the channe) separating the Sulu archipelago from the Malaysian in Borneo. ‘Den rebels, iricluding two commanders of the separatist Moro National Liberation Front, were killed aboard the captured boat, authorities said, The boat, with a cruising speed of 50 knots, carried one .30 caliber machinegun, one AR15 Armalite machine rifle and 1,000 rounis of 7.62 mm ammunition. ms A defense departuent annoutoemant said Bnrile flew to Singapore on route to Jakarta to sign tho Philippine-Indonesian border patrol ani border crossing agreements negotiated last August. It eaid the agreement vould ensure that the border territories, waters and airapace of both countries are not used as "staging arees for illegal sctivities or as plates of refuge of othere who comitted offenses againat other states.” = ‘the department stressed the strengthening of "close, friendly and brotherly relations" between Indonesia and the Philippines follow- ing President Perdinand BE. Marcos’ meeting with Indonesian President Suharto last May. n Authorities identified tho tvo slain rebel comanders an Yusop Dais, a former school-teacher vho heads the MNLF revolutionary committee on TavieTawi feland, and Salip Kusein Juhure, fusop's counterpart on Palavan island. Authorities said the Basbas Channel where the rebel boat was captured about 600 miles south of Mantle in considered « vital Moslem insurgent) supply route. ” 7 Moro than 3,000 persons have been killéd in the Mindanao-Sulu rerion in the last three years,Various Roporte - p, 46 . - BAP. ADTACKS RENELS om mena "Pacific Stare & Steiple, 11 Mazch 1975. IUNTLA:(AP) = "Taree government battaltons have launched an afteel otis eng eee eee Basilan island, 500 miles south of Manila, well informed military sources said Sunday, ‘The sources said the estinated 4,000 rwbele vere | tag ese? untex pressure from goverment forces, No estinates of ties vere available. A norgal governzent, battalion would have 600 to 800 men, but military sources said most battalions are undératrength, ‘The operation on Basilan, vhich aocounte for 80 per cent of the Philfppinea’ natural rubber production, vas one of the biggest in the area in several months, It vomes after President Perdinand B, Marcos said he had ordered the armed forces to launch no “aggressive operations" before peace talks scheduled in early April with representatives of a wajor rébel group, the Moro National Liberation Pront. ‘The attack was disclosed about the sane time informed Moslem sources said the armed fortes were staging an operation off Bangao inland in Tawi~Tawi Province, the southernmost Philippine islands closest to the Malaysian ve of Sabah, The government says supply routeg to the rebelg originate in Sabah. In earlier skirmishes in Tevi-Tavi, the armed forces. claimed the deaths of Yusop Daic of the Tayi-Tavi Revolutionary Coomittees Sulip Russin Jumure, chairman of the Palavan Revolutionary Committee; Jadji Isahac, now chairean of the Zanboangs Revolutionary Comittee, and Mohamed Hatta, Tawi-Tawi rebel zone comander. Other sources said the area was visited late latt week by Alejandro Nelchor, cabinet executive seoretury and leader of the delegation which net rebels for peace talks in Joddah, Saudi Arabia, in Jamary. The sources aleo said coven persons —~ three'soldiers and four civilian bystanders — were killed in a clash between rebels and govermont troops in the heart of Jole Town, capital’of the Sulu inland group midway between Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, Neanvhile, a speech read for Marcos at a national athletic com petition in Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao said, "I have directed the Amy to fight a holding action, to fire only vhen fired at," Marcos speech, reported ty the government news agemy, aleo dec- lared: "We carmot rebuild Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan on weak prope of partisanship, welf-interest and anarchy."+) 9 Mazoh, ‘stil on board doolzed at the port of General Santos City, evening » . + Had ve been permitted to , could have bought some souvenira, ‘The (Army?) Captain who went board when we arrived ordered all of us not to leave the ship tonight. He onda the city has curfew on for civilians... There are sporadic bursts of gunfire vhich can be heard from vhore I aa writing now, (it began an hour after wo docked,) A shipmate said, a "sure" dn- scation that sany soldiers aro by now drunk, The mato even gave me formula for calculating hov sary of them are drunk -- something that runo like thisi divide the mumbe- of gunburate by 2... was it 37 Of course, I'm not garticularly interested:in counting, . « i Beh ie i & 11200 pm, 10March, stil) on board the MV Vieayad -- We're still at Gen, Santos City, Tt seeps that the ship can load and un= load the vhole city without sinking and etil) sail, (But vhen?) ... Ve havo not been pemaftted to go into the city, The ease Captain ze- turned with the order; it seemc that for us, curfew is on for 24 hours, One delegation adviser vno knows one of the Army officers detailed in the oity was able to go and bo. came vith the news: the gunbursts we heard last night were not really « "how-many-sre-drurk- indicator)" what we beard vere from the guns of certain PC scldiera aimed at Army men... About 30 “extrarjubilant” Avy men boarded the ship to be on vacation in Cebu. While walking through the gang- Planks, thay fired theit armalites in the air.Yurious Reporte = ps 40 1 Face igs Aan sia este at a ere cikic atoeatlan fu on “vbo wore ai ‘ hero at last! lc ape ecg leg reget Tove Tthane yea coaet ae i ot Ya et : 400 miles away from the ‘rebpls anynore becomes 7 80 10:00 pm. , 13 March, eet on boant’ the HV => We're now in Cebu City, They sa ve'll be here for at least two While betvedn Zamboanga City and Ceba, I tas able to 1 of the soldiers on board, a wonderful person, Bit’. » of the seasaczes of (Wore) childzen ami the shooting i § ease of anyone moving in the dark, Lives are cheap) he — & situation he does not agree vith but feels helpless about. Is the situation really helplens . . » 7 - Reflecting, I am with mixed emotions, Every now and | "goo" mysolf in Aray uniform, clutching an Armalite; even" holding against tho Moros in an encounter . . . but no’ long. The thought frightens me. eg 5 eee ee oe ged Would I consent to being drafted? In the goverment real: ly waging a just vat against the egocessionists....7 | ; i ile ly * * ? x I should be home on the 17th, But I am really not sure, Perhaps, one should be used to ancertaintion these days. ’ : ee eeMANILA (AF) + The navies of Lise Sopa dale ere ie Captain, (oRieO) Seaeieies En en roe ree to infiltrate arms and equipment fo ippine shores in « joint exexoiee whieh ended Wednesday, its Britinh commander said, . blockade of the 4 of Basilen, considered 2 supply point and _ stronghold of Moslem disdidonte. ; 8 _ Rear Adm, Derik W. Bazalgvtte, director of the SEATO exercises, said tho partiefpante conduoted "conwy and infiltration exercises" in wme convoy exercise involves the pastage of two convoys through areas known to be infested with submrines and within range of enemy Strike aiseraft .. + . : "on shore, the enemy atteapted to Snfiltrate weapons and supplies from the eos, fully testing the vigilant Philippine defenses,” Bavalgette siid in the closing ceresonics ending the SEATO exercises, te said the “battle” raged for five days “and Tam glad to be able to pronounce that all partécipants, both friendly and:enery, were mich wore professional and officient at the end than they vere at the beginning.” . A Philippine navy spokesman eaid soae 7,000 officers and gen from Britain, the United States, Australia, the Philippines and Thailand participated in the naval war games in western Philippine waters. A flotilla of 30 naval veagels alpo took part in the exercises Atsod at "improving the Ceainis of peevonnel and checking ot SEATO procedures," Bazalgette said, 5 Defense Undersecretary Masel Q. Saliontes teld the closing ceremonios: dnile SEAT) wes originally coiiceived and operated as 4 security * alliance -+ « shield against Communist expansion in the area -= the orginization gradually through the years tranacenied this original concept in the face of shifting political and social changes. and develop monte to take on other areas and prograte of cooperation in the social, and cultural fields, thereby cstabliehing sore enduring founlations for the stability, peace and progress of the region.”