By ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW
www.nordis.net

I contribute my voice to condemn the move of the Department of Education (DepEd) to close three schools of the Ata – Manobo tribes in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, and to have these schools placed in the hands of the state security forces to control the schools and act as teachers. Those officials who pushed this take-over should be charged for grossly violating humanitarian and State laws.

The act was traceable to Davao del Norte schools superintendent Josephine Fadul who wrote DepEd Region 11 Director Alberto Escobarte on May 12 to close the Salugpungan Ta ‘Tanu Igkanunon schools in Talaingod.

The teachers of the Salugpungan schools were victims of the state’s witch hunt by branding them as members of a communist rebel front. Their right to be secure as civilian citizens was under threat including that of the Ata-Manobo leaders and people.

Earlier, encounters between the NPA revolutionary group and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) led to the displacement of hundreds of Ata-Manobos last year. the Ata-Manobo leaders were threatened by the military and ordered to burn the schools and kill the teachers as they are working for the communists.

The schools’ establishment is a manifestation of national oppression perpetrated by the government against indigenous peoples for centuries. Despite the indigenous peoples territories being the State’s major sources of raw materials, the indigenous peoples have not received appropriate services from the government in return, particularly services for health and education for their children and their youth.

The state neglect or national oppression perpetrated by the State, moved religious missionaries to fill in the gap for the needed assistance. They helped establish the literacy-numeracy schools called the Salugpungan Ta ‘Tanu Igkanugon in Talaingod, Davao. They helped in the needs and for the achievement of the children’s right to education.

Instead of support from the government, the school workers were instead continuously subjected to terror perpetuated by the AFP which is the agency mandated by the constitution to serve and protect the people. The workers and teachers shouldered the effects of Oplan Bayanihan, the counter-insurgency program of the present administration.

The acts (misconduct) of the government, particularly the Dep-Ed and the soldiers, are in violation of international and local laws on human rights.

The International Humanitarian Law – the Geneva Conventions and the additional Optional Protocols – protects not only civilians and non-combatants but more so neutral institutions like schools, church and hospitals. Let it be known that the violation of international laws are made criminal acts under Republic Act 9851 approved in 2009. This law mandates that the government act on crimes against IHL. Therefore, the act of the DepEd and the soldiers against the Salugpungan is a crime and they can be charged under RA 9851.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child mandates the protection of children even in armed conflict. The presence of armed groups (whether state soldiers or the revolutionary army) in their schools is prohibited as such act is undue influence and instills fear among these children. In fact, this convention contains universally set of non-negotiable standards and obligations for the rights of the children.

The same that RA 7610 provides special protection for children against abuse, exploitation and discrimination, including the right to protection of children in armed conflicts.

School Superintendent Fadul, Director Escobarte, the DepEd officials and the AFP therefore are liable for their acts in the closure of the Salugpungan and to have these soldiers as teachers. They must be charged by the concerned government agencies for this grave nature of human rights violations. # nordis.net