ON DECEMBER 14, 2021 the Tumandok community of Daan Sur, Tapaz, Capiz was shaken by the sudden entry of three military trucks reportedly laden with elements of the Philippine Army (PA), Philippine National Police (PNP) and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at the unholy hour of 3 a.m. This terrified the indigenous community members, with the memory of the infamous Tumandok massacre almost a year ago still fresh on everyone’s mind.
On Dec. 30 last year, nine leaders and members of the Tumandok indigenous people were killed and 16 were arrested in a massive dawn raid by the CIDG, PNP and PA personnel.
One of the nine who were killed was Jomer Vidal from Daan Sur.
The community’s apprehension started the day before on Dec. 13 when two men unknown to anyone in the community and believed to be military intelligence agents came to the village. The village’s electricity was cut off that day. At the dawn of the next day, the silence of the sleeping village was shattered by the roar of military trucks.
Fear of the Daan Sur residents heightened as they saw later in the day that the government troops were carrying high-powered weapons, including sniper rifles. It was some relief for the residents to see them leave the village the following day at the same ungodly hour.
In the village of Tacayan in Tapaz, on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, around 150 households out of 180 households, have already evacuated their homes to other villages or the town proper due to fear.
Some days later, Dec. 27, it was the turn of residents of Garangan village of Calinog, Iloilo to be afraid. Government troopers in three teams conducted military operations in the village and talks spread that some residents, who were named, will be arrested. Worst, a threat of a “second wave” of attacks against the Tumandok communities rang out. The residents whose names were mentioned went to their village officers for protection. Until the present, they are fearfully watching out for what could happen next.
It is unfortunate that this regime is unrelenting in its attacks on the indigenous people. We demand that this be stopped. Instead, the government should look into their plight and examine the cause of their struggle, such as their firm opposition to the construction of a mega-dam in the Jalaur River.
The indigenous people are a protected group with rights to self-determination recognized by the community of nations. The international outcry and grief at the Tumandok massacre last year was a concrete indication of how despicable such an act as attacking and killing helpless and defenseless people could be.
As we look back to the tragic Tumandok massacre of last year, we grieve once more with the families and friends of the nine whose lives were lost and 16 whose liberty was trampled.
We demand justice for them and for all the Tumandok who suffered under this government’s attacks.
We demand the immediate release of 73-year-old Rodolfo “Tay Dolping” Diaz and other Tumandok members imprisoned because of trumped-up cases filed by the police and military.
We call for an end to this regime that rains bullets and bombs on the people who thirst for justice. – REYLAN VERGARA, secretary general, Panay Alliance Karapatan
