Probe pushed against military in Ifugao

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

Laya Migrant Youth for Change and Action, a community based organization in Daly City, has urged President Benigno Aquino III and the Philippine government to “hold thorough investigation regarding targeting, scapegoating and vilification of human rights and indigenous peoples activists in Ifugao province of the Cordillera.”

Months ago, a poster mysteriously surfaced in the area identifying various community organizers in the region as soldiers of the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the National Democratic Revolution of the Philippines. The organizers on this poster are simply human rights workers and community organizers for the indigenous community, the LMYCA said.

The group said such groups and concerned persons volunteer their time to improve the conditions of their fellow folks, empowering them to uphold their indigenous traditions. Due to these trumped up allegations, these organizers are now under constant and daily surveillance and harassment from officials of the local Philippine military.

Among those reportedly being targeted through this black propaganda and “red baiting” is Chinese American, Brandon Lee, a close friend and colleague of many members here in Laya Migrant Youth for Change and Action. Before moving to the Philippines to live with his now wife and child, Brandon was a youth and student organizer with the League of Filipino Students at San Francisco State University. Like many others, LFS SFSU was the first community organization that pushed Brandon to actively take part in improving his community.

The LMYCA said Brandon was involved in various community campaigns ranging from the pushing of tenureship for a beloved SF State professor, to holding demonstrations fighting the state budget cuts to higher education to marching alongside others in anti-war campaigns in the Middle East.

He also volunteered for other grassroots organizations such as the Chinese Progressive Association based in San Francisco. Brandon is the epitome of a model concerned citizen, who actively works to improve his community.

Besides being an amazing community activist, Brandon, as a human being, was well known and loved by his community in the Bay Area. For many years, he worked at the local Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) as a youth program camp leader.

Due to his warm and fun loving personality, YMCA youth all knew and adored him and even created a nickname for him, “Shrek”. He’s a big fan of most of the Bay Area professional sports teams (especially the San Francisco Giants, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Golden State Warriors),  and he also loved to play basketball with friends where he was always able to create an atmosphere of great competitiveness and enjoyable fun. Brandon loved to be around people and people enjoyed his presence. Even eating out at a local burger joint was more enjoyable when Brandon was around (the Westlake Sliders was his favorite).

Years ago, Brandon made the brave decision to extend his community work by moving to the Philippines. He happily lives there with his wife and child and organizes with the Cordillera People’s Alliance, a national alliance of indigenous peoples’ organizations, focused on the rights welfare of indigenous groups in the Philippines. There he continues to do the great work he does. Over the years, he’s developed new relationships and is a prominent and positive figure in the Ifugao province.

 These harsh allegations have done nothing more than destroy an innocent and wonderful man’s life. Not only has Brandon’s life been drastically impacted by this unexpected attack, so have his family and his community. Lastly, we acknowledge that this unfortunate account is not an isolated incident. On a daily basis, activists all across the Philippines have been victims of human rights violations ranging from physical attacks, to red baiting tactics, to violence and torture, to abductions, to extrajudicial killings.

Brandon has always fought against these travesties and it is sharply ironic that he is now the target. Laya condemns these open attacks and harassments against Brandon Lee and his fellow community activists. We demand a thorough investigation be done by the Philippine government to address this very real problem. Activism is not a crime according to Laya Migrant Youth for Change and Action.