ILOILO City – Catholic bishops in Western Visayas condemned the killing of members of the indigenous people’s (IP) group Tumandok during the Dec. 27, 2020 synchronized military-police operations in Calinog, Iloilo and Tapaz, Capiz.
The joint operation resulted in the death of nine leaders of the indigenous group in Panay Island and the arrest of 17 others.
“We empathize with the fear and insecurities of those displaced by atrocities. We condemn in the strongest possible terms, all the killings and especially, the killings of our brothers – the Tumandoks,” the bishops said in a rare joint pastoral letter dated Jan. 15.
The pastoral letter, which will be read in churches in eight dioceses on Jan. 24, was signed by Jose Cardinal Advincula, archbishop of Capiz, Jaro archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo, and bishops Jose Corazon Tala-oc (Kalibo), Narciso Abellana (Romblon), Marvyn Maceda, (San Jose), Patricio Buzon (Bacolod City), Gerardo Alminaza (San Carlos City), and Louie Galbines (Kabankalan City).
Advincula, whom the Pope elevated to cardinal just last month, previously served as member of the Commission for Indigenous Peoples of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
The bishops described the killings as having created a climate of “fear and uncertainty.”
“Fear forced many to leave their communities and migrate to more secure places in the poblacion or in the houses of relatives,” they said.
Fear also forced many to surrender to authorities to clear their names or admit that they were former members and supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), they added.
The bishops of Western Visayas demanded for the following:
* a thorough investigation by an independent body to ascertain what really happened last December
* for the government, the church, business community to listen to the legitimate cries of the tumandoks against the construction of the Jalaur mega dam
* that the militarization of the IP communities should stop immediately so that the tumandoks can go home and live in peace again
* that the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines follow conscientiously the ethical standards in the rules of engagement in their police or military operations
* that police officers be required to use body cameras in all police operations to protect the police against false accusations; this will also protect the civilians from the use of violence or abuse of power such as planting of evidence, illegal arrest and even killings
The tumandoks were said to have opposed a government-led project to build a mega dam in Jalaur in Iloilo, which they fear could submerge their ancestral lands and force them out of it.
Prior to the incident, tribe members had also been “red-tagged” or linked as supporters or members of the communist armed movement.
Police and military officials, however, maintained that those killed were leaders of the CPP-NPA.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Region 6, which led the operations, insisted that those who died fired first at police operatives who were serving a total of 28 search warrants for firearms and explosives.
They also pointed out that Tapaz is a “center of gravity” of the rebel movement in Panay Island where government troops and policemen have died in rebel attacks since the 1970s.
But the families of those killed and several village officials refuted these claims.
They said the firearms were “planted” and those killed were unarmed and gunned down.
Earlier this month, the Police Regional Office 6’s Regional Internal Affairs Service (RIAS) also launched its own investigation.
The probe revolves around possible violations of the PNP’s standard operating procedure in serving search warrants to respondents, according to RIAS chief Police Colonel Roger James Brillantes.
RIAS is also looking into the alleged unlawful aggression of indigenous peoples./PN
