by Victor Gregor Limon
Five Lumad refugees, including two children, were injured earlier this morning after suspected paramilitary agents attempted to burn down their evacuation camp at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Haran compound in Davao City, according to reports from PASAKA Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao.
In a phone interview with the Collegian, PASAKA Secretary-General Jong Monzon said they were awakened by the smell of gasoline poured on the roofs of their makeshift houses at around 2:30 AM. “May tatlong lalaki kaming nakita na sakay ng motorsiklo na naghahagis ng gasolina, pero hindi na sila nahabol dahil nagliyab na ang apoy sa dalawang bahay sa kampo,” Monzon said.
A few minutes later, the boys’ and girls’ dormitories of Lumad students were also torched.
The five injured Lumad include a two-year old who sustained burns on both arms and a 14-year old who sustained burns on his feet. They were rushed to the hospital but were sent back to the camp without receiving medical attention. They are now recuperating at the camp after receiving treatment from fellow Lumad refugees, Monzon said.
More than 700 Lumad are presently housed at the camp after the occupation of their schools and communities by military and paramilitary agents. On September 1 last year, paramilitary agents killed two Manobo leaders and the director of their school. Students who witnessed the killing said the paramilitary agents were accompanied by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
This new attack could come from no one else but the military and their paramilitary cohorts who have been harassing and threatening the Lumad, Monzon said. “Umalis kami sa komunidad namin sa bundok para takasan ang banta sa buhay namin, pero sinusundan nila kami at mukhang hindi sila titigil hanggang mapatay nila kami.”
Monzon also condemned the government’s inaction on their plight, even after the Lumad launched Manilakbayan in October 2015, a caravan where they traveled from Mindanao to Luzon to gather support for their call for justice.
“Hanggang ngayon, kahit pahayag man lang ng suporta, wala kaming natanggap mula sa administrasyon ni Aquino. Mas mabuti pa ngang huwag na niyang hintaying tapusin ang termino niya at magbitiw na lang,” added Monzon.