MEMBERS of a Lumad group in Opol, Misamis Oriental, on Monday, August 14, have complained on alleged illegal search of their houses by the military troops under the 58th Infantry Battalion (IB).
They informed the Commission on Human Rights (CHR)-Northern Mindanao that around 40 soldiers on board two military trucks allegedly barged into the houses of Sanie Payla and Rolie Ligoyan in Lagondang, Tingalan village without a court order last Saturday, August 12.
Jomorito Goaynon, chairman of the Kalumbay Regional Lumad Organization in Northern Mindanao, said the soldiers were looking for firearms and other supposed supplies for the communist rebels inside the said houses.
Goaynon said the military had also asked Payla and Ligoyan for the whereabouts of their three neighbors namely Roy Ibarat, Jolito Namatidong, and Joseph Paborada.
The five of them were said to be leaders of the Pangalasag, the lumad group who claimed their ancestral lands being taken by a palm oil plantation company.
"Giokadra ilang balay sa mga sundalo ug gipangita ang mga armas ug kung asa daw ang supply sa NPA," Goaynon said.
Goaynon said the five lumads have feared for their lives and confused of the search done on the abodes of Payla and Ligoyan families.
The lumad leaders insist they were not members of the New People’s Army (NPA).
The five said they do not have conflict with anyone except for being at the front line in asserting their rights to claim back their lands from the hands of a multi-national company.
"Ang ilang ingon wala silay atraso sa gobyerno gawas sa ilang pagkamembro sa Pangalasag nga nag-claim sa ilang yuta nga gikuha sa A Brown company. Natingala pud si Sanie ug Rolie ngano gisaka ilang balay," Goaynon said.
Already, Goaynon said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has ordered the disputed land to be given back to the Lumads, owing to the company's failure to comply with some legal requirements.
Goaynon said they suspect that the village chief may have had a hand on the incident.
"Ang lima maoy nangulo sa pag-claim sa ilang yutang kabilin nga gikuha sa A brown nga walay proseso pero naa naman order ang DENR nga ilegal ang gihimo sa A Brown so mabalik na sa ila ang yuta mao ilang duda ngano gi-initan sila," Goaynon said.
Ebarat said that village chief Jinetilyo Siarot had an axe to grind against their group.
"Dako kaayo kasuko na si kapitan sa among grupo tungod sa personal nga interest ug pagpabor niya sa A brown nga karon gipaundang ang operation," Ebarat said.
Meanwhile, Goaynon said that what the military did is a violation of human rights and a clearer picture of the martial law which is no different with the martial law of Marcos.
The lumad leader also urged the military to fairly investigate and respect the rights of the indigenous peoples (IPs).
They also call on the military officials to probe the 58IB personnel involved in the “illegal search” of lumad houses.
The five lumad members will also report the incident to the police on Tuesday, August 15.
"Unta ang military tukion nila og maayo kay sa among nahibaw-an ang mga armado diha kanhi NPA nga gihimong goons sa kapitan. Unta maimbestiga pud kadtong mga nisaka sa balay nga walay search warrant," Goaynon said.
The CHR is set to conduct an interview and ocular inspection at the area on Thursday, August 17.
