Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Military’s programs for IP’s welfare on track


PAGADIAN CITY: The military said it has recognized government welfare programs for the most vulnerable sectors of society, especially the farmers and indigenous people, the PIA recently reported.

Earlier, farmers and IPs from Mindanao have demanded a halt on the ceaseless military operations that have been yielding grave human rights violations to them and other lumad communities.

Tabak Public Affairs Office chief Capt. Frank Suelto, representing BGen. Gerardo Barrientos Jr., said the IPs within Tabak’s area is their consideration.

The Tabak’s press conference held at the conference room of the Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office (ZSPO) also disclosed that an IP desk is now present at the Civil Military Operation (CMO) to assist the IPs.

A 2014 report sourced from Camp Aguinaldo said that about 1,112 lumad families, involving 4,735 individuals, mostly women and children, left their communities to seek temporary safety from the AFP’s alleged aerial bombings, artillery bombardments and strafing of their homes and farms.

Suelto said they have put into service a cultural sensitivity program where they orient soldiers assigned in the Subanen community to respect IPs right to self-determination and cultural integrity.

They advise soldiers assigned in remote areas also to provide IPs with basic services through medical civic action program (MEDCAP), which the soldiers did.

Suelto added that what the AFP is doing is in full support to RA 8371, known as the Indigenous People’s Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997.

The recent Tabak press conference was one of the activities during the Mindanao Week of Peace celebration organized by the Interfaith Forum for Peace and Solidarity. (WITH REPORTS BY GIDEON CORGUE)