By Mark Vincent A. Durano

Human rights groups KARAPATAN and Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas reported that military forces arrested Lumad leaders Genasque Enriquez and Michelle Campos, whose whereabouts remain unknown as of writing.

According to initial reports, Enriquez was nabbed last March 2, while Campos was arrested at around 2 a.m. last March 6.

Both leaders hailed from the Manobo tribe in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, who led their people in asserting their right to self-determination amid encroachment of giant mining and logging companies.

In Surigao del Sur, the Andap Valley Complex holds one of the world's largest coal block reserves in the Philippines. 

The valley is targeted by the Romualdez-owned Benguet Mining Corporation, the Chinese company Great Wall Mining and Power Corp., as well as ASK Mining and Exploration Corp., Abacus Coal Exploration and Development Corp., and CoalBlack Mining Corp.

Additionally, the human rights groups also stated that Lumad communities in Lianga continue to face heavy militarization on top of trumped-up cases against Lumad leaders, threats, harassment, forced surrenders, and other forms of repression.

Michelle is the daughter of Dionel Campos, one of the three victims of the Lianga Massacre under the guns of the paramilitary group Magahat-Bagani and elements of the 75th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army on September 1, 2015. 

Without facing any penalization, Michelle led campaigns to call for justice for the Lianga Massacre and to assert indigenous peoples’ (IP) rights. 

Meanwhile, Enriquez, who served as a Kahugpungan sa mga Lumadnong Organisasyon Secretary-General, actively exposed and condemned rights violations against IP and led campaigns for indigenous rights and environmental protection. 

He was also lodged with fabricated murder charges in 2014 but was later released on bail.

Moreover, KARAPATAN urged the surfacing of the two leaders in adherence to international humanitarian laws.

“We call on military forces to surface Michelle Campos and Genasque Enriquez, and to ensure that they are accorded their rights and personal integrity under the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and Republic Act No. 9851 or the domestic law implementing the IHL,” the group said.

KARAPATAN has recorded at least 255 cases of arbitrary or illegal arrests since Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. took seat as President up to December 2024.

(Photos courtesy of Efren Ricalde and Kalumaran)