#JusticeForTumandokMassacre: Stop Killing Farmers!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Tumandoks, one of the indigenous peoples of Panay island, greet the new year with a bang—but not the sort of bang that comes with a celebration. 

We condemn yet another act of state terrorism during what ought to be a season of rest, reflection, and recreation. 

Military-police operations killed Tumanduk indigenous peoples and arrested several others in Panay! Walang holiday, holiday sa mga pasista!

Did you hear what police and soldiers did to the Tumandoks? 

All over Panay, like terrorists, they barged into the homes of indigenous farmers at dawn, killed 9 farmers and arrested 15.

Victims were known leaders of Tumanduks tribe resisting megadam projects and landgrabbing. "Due to their strong resistance against the construction of the destructive Jalaur Mega Dam and their continuous fight for IP rights, they have been tagged by military forces as members of the rebel groups."

TUMANDUK is an organization of the Tumaduk tribe resisting the construction of the Jalaur  River Multipurpose Project – Stage II (JRMP II) in Calinog, Iloilo. 

Tumanduk farmers in Alibunan, Agcalaga, Sumuroy, and Barangan villages in Calinog, Iloilo are constantly threatened with the construction of the P11.2-billion mega dam. Their persistent resistance have delayed for several years the construction of the mega dam.

The Tumandok indigenous people resides in the mountainous areas of Capiz and Antique. They have been actively opposing the construction of the Jalaur Mega Dam in their ancestral land which will greatly affect and destroy their community’s land and livelihood.

The police are the real terrorists! The perpetrators were from PRO-6, PNP-CIDG, 12th IBPA, and Tapaz Municipal Police.

The 12th IBPA is also the Philippine Army unit who is accountable of all the killings of farmers and hacienda workers in 2018 in the Negros island. 

Source: Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas 

They could not yet disclose the name of the judge who issued the search warrants.

IP leaders were UNARMED when state forces murdered them at their homes. 

State forces massacred and brutally murdered nine Tumandok farmers just because their farmer's alliance that wanted land and justice were labeled as "terrorists". Injustice and oppression continues.

PNP and AFP elements said the victims fought back as authorities were serving warrants early morning Wednesday in Barangay Lahug, Tapaz in Capiz. The familiar made-up script to justify their horrible extrajudicial killings.

The attacks in Tapaz, Capiz are reminiscent of the SEMPO in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental that led to the massacre of six individuals and arrest of 15 others on December 26, 2018 led by then PRO-7 Director Debold Sinas.  

The government justified their massacres on indigenous people as "necessary" to stop the New People's Army and even label innocents as NPA, but in reality the government uses terrorism as an excuse to silence those who stand against fascism.

Anong klaseng news reporting ‘yan! Stop peddling this “NPA” narrative. 

Roy Giganto, a Tumandok leader and local village councilman was among those killed. The victims were red-tagged and claimed by the PNP as 'high-value individuals' of the CPP-NPA. They are civilians defending their ancestral lands.

Farmers aren't NPA! Activists aren't NPA! Minorities aren't NPA! Stop playing DUMB!

BAYAN MUNA Rep. Eufemia Cullamat strongly condemned the same  joint operations of  the army's 12th IB and police. 

Peasant activist Lorenzo "Dodoy" Paña of Brgy. Bantolinao, Antequera, Bohol was gunned down by unidentified motorcycle riding men around 9:00 am today near a bridge at Brgy. Dorol, Balilihan.

Lorenzo was a former officer of Hugpong sa Mag-uuma Dapit sa Kasadpan (HUMANDA KA), a district formation of Humabol chapters in the first district of Bohol.

Lorenzo was on his way to bring lunch for his son working at a nearby construction site when he was fired upon by the perpetrators.

It can be recalled that on June 26, 2018, his house was subjected to a warrantless search by around 30 members of SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics). Members of his family complained of maltreatment during the said incident.

In previous years, the Paña family had also reported being harassed by state forces.

In 2018, Lorenzo along with his wife and children voluntarily worked for the construction of the coconut processing plant in Brgy. Tinibgan, Maribojoc which now produces virgin coconut oil.

NNARA-Youth UP Diliman vehemently condemns the cold-blooded, state-sponsored killing of Lorenzo Paña. Reports of his murder coincide with the massacre of nine Tumandoks in the province of Capiz.

The extra-judicial killing of Lorenzo and the Tumandoks raises the peasant death toll under the Duterte regime to 305.

Mario Aguirre, a barangay council member from Barangay Lahug also among confirmed killed. 

"SAKA said, 'Instead of counting presents this holiday season, the Filipino people are counting corpses.'

Instead of Santa's sleigh, we got Satan's slay!

The injustice in our country is just— it just exist everywhere. And we aren't happy!

About "WazzupPilipinas.com"

WazzupPilipinas.com is the fastest growing and most awarded blog and social media community that has transcended beyond online media. It has successfully collaborated with all forms of media namely print, radio and television making it the most diverse multimedia organization. The numerous collaborations with hundreds of brands and organizations as online media partner and brand ambassador makes WazzupPilipinas.com a truly successful advocate of everything about the Philippines, and even more since its support extends further to even international organizations including startups and SMEs that have made our country their second home.