PASAKA twits DelRo for arming Lumads

August 27, 2010 | Davao City --- PASAKA lumad confederation lambasted 1003rd Brigade  General Del Rosario for his pronouncement that the providing arms to indigenous peoples  is legitimate.“The statement of General Del Rosario reveals the military’s cowardly practice of using  civilians, especially lumads, as pawns in their counter insurgency operations. We’re  being used as dispensable forces; as their shields in the front line. Paramilitary  recruitment among our ranks is done by the military in sheer force, harassment and  blackmail. Where is the legitimacy in this?” said Diolito Diarog, spokesperson of  PASAKA Confederation of Lumad Organizations.

PASAKA stressed that United Nations Special Rapporteur Rodolfo Stavenhagen, after his  2002 visit to the country, has strongly recommended to the Philippine government to  stop the recruitment of Lumads as CAFGUs or in other paramilitary groups.

Stavenhagen said in his report that “given the severity of the various alleged human  rights abuses and the divisive effects on indigenous communities caused by irregular  military units or paramilitary groups, the Special Rapporteur urges that the CAFGUs be  withdrawn from indigenous areas altogether. Furthermore the Special Rapporteur  recommends that the Government of the Philippines take maximum caution to protect IPs'  rights during its military operations, in accordance with international humanitarian  standards.”

Diarog pointed out that, “General Del Rosario has no qualms in using Lumads without  regard for civilian safety. He employs the divide and rule tactic to incite conflict  among us. CAFGU and BDS recruitment have sown deeper conflict among lumads, and between  lumads and non-Lumad settlers.”

Diarog also elaborated, “Datu Labawan exemplifies leaders who have been lured by the  goons and guns offered by the military in exchange for serving as military agents and  for recruiting lumads into CAFGUs.”

Diarog added that documents furnished to their office showed a letter by CA Ruben  Labawan endorsing 211 lumads to MGen. Carlos Holganza, former 10th ID commanding  general and BGen. Del Rosario of 1003rd Brigade while there were also receipts  indicating that several high – powered rifles such as Rifle Cal 30 M1 Garand were  released to Labawan by one 1Lt. Harold Ho and approved for use by BGen del Rosario  dated March 13, 2010.

“The extent of the military’s arming of lumads is alarming. This poses a serious  question to the motives of the government in peace building as well as in observing  international and national humanitarian laws which dissuades governments and their  armed forces from putting civilian lives in danger,” said Diarog.

“Thus, we are planning to present this pertinent documents to the Office of the Mayor,  the City's Sangguniang Panglunsod, and other concerned government agencies as we seek  for intervention and in-depth investigation over the atrocities perpetrated by  Labawan's group in Paquibato District,” Diarog concluded.#