"Not contented with Oplan Bayanihan’s killing spree in Mindanao, the BS Aquino government has “slapped” more than 200 individuals with trumped up criminal charges," Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general said in front of the Justice Department. "The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of Justice should stop persecuting well-meaning individuals taking part in the movement for change," Palabay continued.
"Not contented with Oplan Bayanihan’s killing spree in Mindanao, the BS Aquino government has “slapped” more than 200 individuals with trumped up criminal charges," Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general said in front of the Justice Department. "The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of Justice should stop persecuting well-meaning individuals taking part in the movement for change," Palabay continued.
Manilakbayan, composed of 300 Mindanaoans who travelled to Manila to call for "Food and Peace in Mindanao", held a protest picket today with Karapatan calling on the Aquino government to “stop SLAPP” and withdraw existing charges against leaders and members of progressive organizations.
The SLAPP or Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, according to Manilakbayan, is “any legal action filed by corporations, public officials, or individuals against non-government organizations, people’s organization, local residents, community groups and individuals in an attempt to intimidate the latter into discontinuing their protests, oppositions, and criticisms against any initiative of the former that adversely affects public participation, interest and welfare."
Genasque Enriquez, a Lumad leader fighting for indigenous people’s rights was SLAPPed with frustrated murder charges and was arrested in August 22 after attending People’s Congress for People’s Initiative in Surigao City. He was released the next day after posting bail. "This is meant to silence Enriquez and make him stop in his endeavours," Palabay said.
Genasque “Apad” Enriquez Jr., the12-year old son of Genasque, joined the Manilakbayan and protested in front of the DOJ. He called for the withdrawal of charges against his father and all those falsely charged by the BS Aquino government.
"This is part of Oplan Bayanihan’s scheme to try to immobilize people’s movement that works to uplift the lives of the Mindanaoans. But for BS Aquino and the AFP, it is a crime to work for a brighter future for the peasants and indigenous peoples’ children," Palabay said.
Currently, there are 150 political prisoners in Mindanao, most of them peasants. "They are charged for simply fighting for their right to land; while many were arrested during the 2013 Zamboanga siege because they were suspected to have links with the Moro National Liberation Front,” Palabay cited.
"Even those working for the poor, those providing services in far flung areas of indigenous peoples are now facing criminal charges," Palabay said. Such is the case of Dominiciano Muya who was helping rebuild the self-help school in Talaingod, Davao del Norte because the government continues to neglect these communities. Muya now face charges of multiple murder and frustrated murder.
"The BS Aquino government, through the Oplan Bayanihan, seems to be making the whole of Mindanao a “no man’s land”, a phenomenon during the Marcos dictatorship. Many others are imprisoned, if not, threatened to be imprisoned," Palabay said. "The people of Mindanao will never bow down. They refuse to make Mindanao an island of graves or prison bars," Palabay concluded.