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Mindanao Human Rights Action Center, Inc.#66 Gen. Luna Street, Rosary Heights 4, Cotabatao City, Philippines 9600

Telefax: (064) 390-2751; Email: mail@minhrac.org; Website: http://www.minhrac.net

The following are some of the major issues that still need attention AS OF NOVEMBER 15,

2011:

1. Prevention of residents of Sitio Taib (Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay) from returning; defacto "no man's land"

Majority of the residents of Sitio Taib who were displaced as a result of the military operation

against the MILF are still staying in Sitio Tinago, Poblacion Talusan, Zamboanga Sibugay. As of

November 9, 2011, they have yet to be allowed to return in their barangay. In fact, on November9, 2011, seven (7) men and four (4) women tried visiting their place to harvest their seaweeds.But before landing in the shore, soldiers fired a warning shot. They were frightened but they

could not leave as they were already near the seashore. The soldiers called them up and theyresponded and moved closer to the soldiers location. During their conversation, the soldierswarned them that from that moment nobody is allowed to enter the sitio until notice is given to

that effect.

In this regard, the residents are wondering why they are not allowed to return despite the fact thatthe area had already been cleared by the army. They have now difficulty in their daily living

because they can no longer harvest their seaweed which is basically their source of living. They

considered their area as no man s land as nobody is there except the deployed soldiers.

The war torn sitio Taib which is currently a No Man s Land

2) Lack of assistance to residents of Patikul, Sulu whose homes were damaged or destroyed

last July during the artillery shelling that accompanied anti-kidnapping operations

The displacement was a result of the military operation against the ASG kidnap for ransomgroup. During the operation, the Philippine marines had an encounter with the Abu SayaffGroup present in the locality. This ended in a fierce fire fight resulting in the killing of seven

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soldiers including one officer and injury of more than twenty men. On the ASG side, report saidthat they suffered three fatalities.

The incident produced evacuees who are estimated to have reached more than 1,000 families.These IDP s came from different part of the following barangays; Maligay, Tugas, Pansul,Buhanginan and the whole barangay of Kabbuntakas, all of Patikul, Sulu. What the people did

was they moved in the sitio (district) of the same barangay where they believe they could be safe.For instance, in Sitio Sangay of Barangay Buhanginan, about 65 families evacuated to Sitio

Kankitap of same barangay. In most cases, people stay with their relatives.

The displacement started last July 28, 2011 and it lasted for a month. During that period, IDPs

complained of not receiving any relief items. Besides, some houses were burned by theoperating unit. Until this time, no assistance is given on these people to re-establish their

dwelling. Here are the remains of those houses.

3) lack of assistance to residents of Al Barka, Basilan whose homes and properties were

damaged or destroyed last April during artillery shelling on the occasion of anti-kidnapping operations

Pictures below show what really transpired on civilians property during the military operation.Residents complain of receiving no assistance. They complained of lost properties upon their

return.

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4)Lack of assistance to residents of Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay whose homes were

damaged or destroyed last April due to burning on the occasion of anti-criminality

operations

KAMSA and KALIANTANA

A huge operation last April 7 in Barangay Kalantiana (an island village in Naga, ZamboangaSibugay) by a composite team of military and police personnel against a suspected extortionist

led to the detention of the residents of that village (men, women, and children) for about 26hours.

During this incident, around thirteen houses were burned. The local government unit promised to

help those families who had burned houses to re-establish their home but up to this moment noassistance is reported.

5) Continued displacement in Al-Barka, Basilan

On October 18, 2011, early dawn, one platoon of military personnel entered Barangay Cambug,

Al-Barka, Basilan, a known MILF community. Later that morning, the military personnel and

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local members of the MILF engaged in a firefight that lasted for eight hours. Ground artillerywas also used. Artillery and aerial ordinance was also used.

Due to this incident, at least one thousand one hundred ninety five (1,195) families and fourthousand three hundred eighty five (4,385) individuals were displaced. Many are children.Civilians structures such as schools and homes were also damaged. Two IDPs, one of whom is a

female, were injured due to the shelling which occurred as they were running for safety.

Since their displacement began, the IDPs had only received relief goods twice, each timereceiving a few kilos of rice per household. Some complained of not receiving any. Given thatthe number of military has been increased and that the risk of escalation is still high, they could

not still ascertain how long they will have to stay in the evacuation centers.

6) Lack of assistance to residents whose homes were burnt by militia in Brgy Elbibi, Paglas,

Maguindanao

Last September, dispute arises over a parcel of land in Barangay Elbibi between Moro natives

and settlers. Some houses owned by Moro civilians were burned down. Per the narration of thehomeowners, the perpetrators are followers of the president of the Association of Barangay

Captains of Tulunan, North Cotabato.

Up to this time, no assistance was given to those owners of houses that were burned as a result ofthe conflict.

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7) Banisilan, murder of 2 children

On the night of November 13, 2011, two Moro children died and one was injured when believeto be policemen massacred them in Poblacion Banisilan, North Cotabato. Killed victims wereSailyn and Usman while the wounded is Sainor, all surname Dulangan. Family of the victims

point to an individual they linked to the local police unit. No displacement yet but communaltension is high in the community since all victims are Moro.

8) Lack of assistance to Bregueron, Talayan, Maguindanao

IDPs from Bregueron as a result of Firefight Incident last July 22, 2011

An encounter between militiamen and MILF regulars last July 22 resulted in the displacement of a total

of 300 families. A total of 7 homes were also burned. Other than 60 of the 300 families getting 2 kilos

of rice for each household, the IDPs complained of not receiving any assistance. They have yet to return

due to their homes due to lack of a security guaranty from authorities.

Dialogue with an old woman who was also

displaced due to the armed encounter.

Women and children who were also

displaced due to the armed conflict while

we had doing a dialogue together with the

Municipal Officials of South Upi, Barangay

Officials of Pandan and Chieftains.

Other Issues

Besides the above mentioned issues, the region is also confronting concerns on irregularities in

the distribution of aid to civilians as observed in the following reports:

9) Barangay Damablac, Talayan, Maguindanao

- According to the residents of Damablac, there was a problem in the selection ofbeneficiaries for the PAMANA Project. As residents reported, the Brgy. Chairman is the

one who chose the beneficiaries and even 12 years old among his family were given.

Priority was given to his relatives, to the exclusion of other residents.

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- Farm Equipments - According to the residents, mobile/portable farm equipments, i.e., 2

Turtles and one Kuliglig were sold by the son of previous Brgy.Chairman who is

currently an employee of the Department of Agriculture. He sold this for a PhP50,000each and having an arrangement that if ever the donor of these materials will conduct

monitoring, he can still borrow those units to show that they are still in his hand and still

using them for their benefit.

- Sprayer - Residents also reported that a farm sprayer was also sold by the Brgy.Chairman.

- According to the residents, during the last distribution of rice aid in the original drop offpoint. Instead the drop was made in Barangay Tamontaka, Datu Odin Sinsuat,

Maguindanao, a place closer to Cotabato City, per arrangement by the local officials ofBrgy. Damablac and the humanitarian worker in charge for aid distribution in their area.

The beneficiaries complained of not receiving any from this assistance.

10) Labungan, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao

- According to the residents, the beneficiaries of a food for work project were made tounderstand that they will receive 1 sack of rice (50 kilos). But when the rice arrived,

everyone is only given 25 kilos, half sack of the original plan.

11) Damatulan, Midsayap, North Cotabato

- The evacuees who just returned are complaining about the distribution of farmequipments because as they understand, farm equipments should be given to them and

not to the residents of their host barangay during the height of the fighting. But what

happened was the reverse.

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