By Cassandra Luis J. De Leon

Multiple aerial artillery strikes by the 203rd Infantry Brigade and 76th Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) forcibly displaced residents of Barangay Misong, Pola, Oriental Mindoro, starting last February 19.

According to reports from human rights organization KARAPATAN, AFP conducted two rounds of artillery strikes, claiming they were prompted by numerous encounters and part of intensifying their attacks against the Communist Party of the Philippines’ armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), from February 11 to 19.

Both military units have been previously associated by KARAPATAN with human rights violations against farmers and indigenous people in Mindoro.

The people from the affected communities started to experience intimidation and fear from the military attacks, leading them to evacuate from their residence last February 21.

Soldiers were also seen encamping in schools within the same area where evacuees are staying while military operations are still ongoing, traumatizing the residents, especially the children of Pola.

Additionally, the livelihood, ancestral lands, and environment of the ethnic group Mangyan-Tadyawan were also threatened by the attacks, according to Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KATRIBU) on their Facebook post.

The attacks and military operations in the area followed as the residents were recovering their livelihood from an oil spill.

Last March 1, 2023, the oil tanker MT Princess Empress sank in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, carrying 800,000 liters of fuel, causing P40 billion-worth of environmental damage in the area.

Residents struggle for food as authorities prohibit them from going to the uplands, halting agricultural activities, such as fishing and farming.

Reports also indicate that KARAPATAN’s humanitarian team experienced consistent military intimidation, harassment, and surveillance.

In their three-day fact-finding mission, representatives from KARAPATAN documented that military men ordered barangay officials to implement a curfew, restrict the entry of humanitarian groups, and mandate identification checks for people inside and around the location. 

Reportedly, hundreds of military men are occupying the roads and schools, postponing the classes of students for a week from February 21 to 28. 

Several cases were also reported of farmers and fishermen being accused by the authorities as members of NPA members.

Yesterday, March 1, days apart from the Pola strikes, another attack on the farmers and Mangyan-Hanunuo tribe by the 203rd Infantry Brigade and 4th Infantry Battalion was reported. 

Several groups, including KATRIBU and KARAPATAN, denounced the military operations for causing the displacement of the Mangyans.

KARAPATAN Deputy Secretary-General Atty. Maria Sol Taule urged the Commission of Human Rights to investigate Mindoro's current situation.

“We call on the Commission of Human Rights to look into these violations engendered by escalating militarization with the same zeal it demonstrated in its investigation of red-tagging incidents nationwide,” Taule said.

The secretary-general also expressed that the organization will closely monitor the situation in Mindoro and other areas currently experiencing similar human rights violations.

KARAPATAN dubbed the situation as a ‘de facto martial law’ due to the military presence and control within the said communities.

The group’s humanitarian team was barred from entering the communities of Barangays Misong and Tagumpay. 

Furthermore, KATRIBU demanded the protection of indigenous communities and urged the local government to provide them safety while holding the military accountable for the committed international humanitarian law violations.

“An independent investigation must be conducted into AFP’s actions to ensure accountability for these violations… We demand an immediate end to these attacks and call for justice for the affected communities,” the group stated.

Despite the assistance request of the humanitarian team for the communities, the local government has yet to respond.

(Photos courtesy of Istarirang Mangyan and Karapatan Southern Tagalog)