Militarization Scars Women and Children in Pananuman, Tubo, Abra

On the evening of March 12, 2008 the Charlie Company of the 50th Infantry Batallion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines enforced themselves in the little village of Pananuman, in Barangay Tub-Tuba of Tubo, Abra. This is a part of a series of attacks to eliminate insurgency in the country as provided in the government's Oplan Bayan II operation which is due on 2010.

The next morning, the soldiers then camped in the community, hanging hammocks under the people's houses and residing on schools and even the "dap-ay". Houses after houses, the army illegally searched for armaments and documents that would link the local residents to the New Peoples Army. The men, women and children were interrogated, intimidated if they are supporters or even NPA members themselves. For two days, these people suffered from the dread of being tagged as NPAs.

On March 24, the Charlie Company, headed by Leiutenant Dalven Abdul Rashid Avila started an open fire targeting the suspected lair of the NPA. Cannons and mortars were situated within the community, even as close as the resident's backyard.. Aerial assault was also conducted. At least 48 bombs were recorded by the local villagers to have been dropped in just two days while the bombings actually lasted for almost two weeks. The tranquil small village of Pananuman was disturbed by blasts day and night, scaring the people as if the earth was crumbling down. Civilians are made shields in the middle of the military attacks.

Vast areas of fields were destroyed from the blasts. The crops were detroyed from the bombings and village folks were denied the freedom to go to their farms and move around their environs. The planting of new seedlings are also delayed due to the bombings and the constraint laid upon the residents. The destruction of their fields and products is causing worry among the residents on where to get their food supply. The people of Pananuman are even dismayed to tend their farms as they fear that the military will destroy it once again. There have also been reports of theft by the AFP. Cows and other livestock were stolen. With the country's worsening economic crisis, the destruction of their main livelihood puts the people of Pananuman to a greater destitute for a longer period of time. Most of the people of Pananuman now suffer from trauma. The very limited opportunity to go in and out of the community is as good as being held captive.The constant threat of a misfire from the cannons surely left these people with sleepless nights. The women and children should not be frightened of their own haven. Schools are a place for learning and playing and not as battlegrounds. Now, the children of Pananuman are too scared to go to school. The smell of gun powder still lingers in the air. These children are too afraid and they even worry about the safety of their parents after witnessing soldiers holding guns in their parent's faces. The women of Pananuman are afraid for the safety of their family. "I am having a hard time going back to the fields. I have the unshakable feeling that someone is still watching me", exclaimed an old lady from Pananuman. The untended fields remind them of the terror of flying bombs crossing their village.

Innabuyog urges the media, the different organizations as well as the citizenry of the Philippines to be vigilant and stand firm against the government's "terrorism" in this society. Let us not allow this barbaric acts to pursue and let us not wait to be victims ourselves. We add our voices to the women and children's rights advocates in opposing the militarization in the countryside.

Innabuyog condemns the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regime for this blasphemy. The militarization in the countryside depicts not the iron-fist rule of her government, but the cowardice of this government against the so-called threat to her throne. This bloodshed will never be fruitful. Hence, it is deemed to push the Filipino society further into misery. We call for the Armed Forces of the Philippines to adhere to its mandate to protect the citizenry and not the otherway around. Listen to the women and children of Pananuman. Witness how their innocent minds are forever scarred by this violence.

STOP MILITARIZATION IN THE COUNTRYSIDE!
STOP STATE TERRORISM!
DEMAND FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE GMA GOVERNMENT FOR THESE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS!
OUST GMA!

Innabuyog-Gabriela

Reference: Vernie Yocogan Diano, Chairperson