DAVAO CITY, February 21, 2009—The Sisters Association of Mindanao (SAMIN) has expressed condemnation on the alleged abuses committed by the members of the 67th Infantry Battalion to a missionary Benedictine Sister and three environmental advocates in Davao Oriental.
Sr. Stella Matutina of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters and three environmental advocates Maria Fe Matibo, Wenceslao Mapa and Gil Sentinales were illegally arrested, arbitrarily detained, and harassed by the military in the Barangay Hall of Taytayan, Cateel, Davao Oriental last February 16.
Sr. Elsa C. Compuesto, MSM, executive secretary of SAMIN said the acts of the soldiers are shameless insolence towards human rights, the rule of law and the mission of the Church.
“They have committed no crimes; they have committed no acts that make them deserve detention and being suspected as rebels. Sr. Stella and her companions were in Taytayan on the invitation of local officials to talk on environmental awareness and protection,” added Compuesto.
In a statement made by SAMIN they said, “the 67thIB officials insists on doing things their way. They (military) blame local officials for not coordinating with them in holding the forum. They have conveyed a “veiled threat” to Sr. Stella that she should have rather stayed in the convent than work in a critical area where NPA thrive. They have raised the specter of fake nuns roaming the rural areas to organize the people and turn them against the government.”
“It only shows that the military rules over the people. It is a culture that has remained with the military since Martial law. It is a culture that disturbs the peace of the community and tramples upon the rights of individuals. It is a culture that does not tolerate freedom of speech, freedom of movement, freedom to organize, and for us religious, the freedom to evangelize,” read the statement.
“It is a culture too that looks at people who serve the poor, marginalized and oppressed with suspicion, derision, and hatred. It is a culture that currently takes the form of Oplan Bantay Laya 2. The Armed Forces of the Philippines is sending out the chilling message that no religious can disrupt their plans of protecting the interests of logging, mining, and big business interests,” it added.
“When shepherds of the flock are themselves the ones under attack, the wolves scatter the flock and make them easy prey. Yes, if they could do it with impunity to Sr. Stella and environmental advocates, they care less about violating the rights of ordinary Filipinos.”
Meanwhile, Compuesto also expressed fear that “Sr. Stella’s case is another example of the Arroyo government’s tacit, if not direct, approval of state-sponsored human rights violations including extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, and displacements.”
“It is disheartening that today, while those who stand their ground to protect the environment are being intimidated and killed, the first family—Mrs. Arroyo and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo—is embroiled in mining interests including those in Mt. Diwalwal , Compostela Valley,” she said.
Compuesto added that church people including their members who serve and live with the farmers and lumads in Mindanao have faced persecution.
Sr. Mary John Dumaug of the Religious of the Good Shepherd (RGS) had been harassed for her missionary work with the Banwaon in Agusan del Sur. Mateo Morales, an RGS lay worker also from Agusan del Sur, was killed by Cafgu men in 2006. The convents of the Missionary Sisters of Mary and the Contemplative Sisters of the Good Shepherd in Butuan City were raided by police in November 2006 without any basis at all and without search warrants.
“Amidst this state of oppression, we remain steadfast to fulfill the mission of the Church which is to assert the dignity and rights of the people and the integrity of Creation. We carry this task to care for the environment as a matter of common and universal duty,” she said, adding:
“As we work to protect the integrity of Creation, we also call for Justice for the people. The Arroyo government must stop militarization in the communities, and stop the plunder of large-scale mining and other aggressive destruction of the environment.” (Mark S. Ventura)
