Manobo farmer shot, community members flee for safety

While urban centers are bombarded with advertisements and campaign materials of politicians running for office, BS Aquino and the AFP bombards the remote communities of Lumad with guns and bullets, human rights group Karapatan said. 

Ama Benjie dela Peña in hospital 

While urban centers are bombarded with advertisements and campaign materials of politicians running for office, BS Aquino and the AFP bombards the remote communities of Lumad with guns and bullets, human rights group Karapatan said. 

Ama Benjie dela Peña in hospital 

Based on an initial report from Karapatan-Caraga,  Ama Benjie dela Peña, a Manobo farmer, was shot twice by members of the 36th Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army and the 2nd Special Forces in Purok 6 Barobuan, Brgy. Caromata, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur on March 11, 2016.

Dela Peña was in his farm when about 30 soldiers came and shot him. He sustained two gunshot wounds. With the help of a barangay councilor, Dela Peña was brought to the hospital in San Miguel town.

The next day, on March 12, some 33 families or 172 individuals forcibly evacuated from Purok 6, Barobuan to the barangay proper of Carmata because of military operations by the 2nd Special Forces of the AFP in the province. 

The shooting came after EastMinCom’s declaration that the province of Surigao del Sur, the same province where the September 1 Massacre in Lianga happened, will be insurgency-free and ‘ready for further development’ by the year’s end.

With less than three months in Malacañang, BS Aquino and the AFP seemed to be sure that its Daang Matuwid and Oplan Bayanihan will continue even after elections. 

Karapatan said the Liberal Party candidate and BS Aquino’s bet Mar Roxas’ promised, ‘itutuloy, palalawakin at ipaglalaban ang daang matuwid’ should serve as a warning to the public. Aquino’s bet will surely continue his blood-stained legacy.”