Davao-based activist groups condemned on Monday what they termed as a series of harassment and surveillance activities they have experienced from the hands of military men over the past two weeks.
Guesting during Monday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw media forum, Rius Valle of Save our Schools Network cited an incident involving Salugpongan Community Learning Center director Ronie Garcia.
Valle said Garcia had just came from a moving up ceremony of their school in Brgy. Palma Gil, Talaingod last March 24 when he and his group were held by plain-clothes soldiers when they crossed Sto. Niño.
Valle said Garcia has been subject to incidents of harassment and suspected surveillance in the past two months.
According to SOS, Garcia’s case is among the 87 cases of continuing attacks on schools by state agents reported since June 2016.
Bayan Muna Southern Mindanao Secretary General Sheena Duazo bared her own share of injustices from state agents citing military officers from the 10th Infantry Division whom she claimed sent her messages and ordered her to sign a paper to “prove” her submission to the officer.
She also cited other incidents of surveillance sighted and reported by her group during the activities they have organized in the city.
Furthermore, the multi-sectoral group questioned the motives of the intelligence who are monitoring their activities which include engaging with communities on the prospects of peace talks and consulting constituencies on a peace agenda to benefit the people.
“It seems the attacks on people’s defenders and servants are an attempt to discourage people to serve the people, and aspire for a true agenda of just and lasting peace,” said Duazo.
The GRP-NDF panel recently agreed to resume peace talks as peace panels are set to meet on April 2 to 6.
One of the main agenda is to craft a Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER).
Also guesting, Tony Salubre of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas Southern Mindanao Chapter also called justice to his fellow farmers by addressing issues of landlessness, lack of industries and employment for millions.
“Peace is not just the absence of war,” said Duazo who pointed out the panel must also address the incidents of surveillance and harassment and for the intelligence to be able to distinguish the armed from the unarmed.
For Valle, peace also means ease of access to food, land, quality education and financial security.
The group also plans to file a paper of these incidents to be part of the discussions of the GRP-NDF panel.
