Isabela university officials hit over ‘murder, abduction of IPs’

By Aldwin Quitasol

A party list group demanded an investigation to the long list of human rights violations which included murder committed against indigenous peoples allegedly by officials of Isabela State University and their minions.

Sulong Katribu said killing, abduction and filing of trumped up charges against innocent civilians, who built houses over land being claimed by ISU was not the answer to the problem.

The nationwide alliance of indigenous peoples Sulong Katribu expressed its support to the struggle of migrant settlers of Mallig Plains Reservation in Barangay Matusalem, Roxas, Isabela for the immediate awarding of lands to actual occupants.

Sulong Katribu Cordillera regional coordinator Samuel Anongos said human rights violations by ISU against the settlers were alarming.

In a statement, he said ISU-Roxas as an educational institution should be a model the adherence of law and order. “But based on the testimonies of migrant settlers, ISU-Roxas through its armed security personnel was sowing chaos and lawlessness in the area,” he said. 

Anongos said in 2010, some 1,400 migrant settlers mostly IPs, many of them coming from the Cordillera Region began occupying a public land in Matusalem declared by then President Ramon Magsaysay in 1966.

Since then, they built their houses, developed the area as rice fields and fishponds and nurtured them.

He said the trouble started when the administration of ISU-Roxas began claiming the land.

According to Anongos, “ISU-Roxas became an institution of fascism and oppression when it unleashed its armed security guards and started committing abuses.”

He said victims reported all cases of HRVs were not investigated by the police and no perpetrator was brought to courts.

The situation of the settlers led to the formation of Agbiag Matusalem Association Roxas Isabela (Amari). The leaders and members of the organization held protests actions and activities in their campaign for the awarding of the lands they are occupying. 

Since then, the leaders and members of Amari suffered grave human rights abuses allegedly perpetrated by the security forces of the institution.

In 2011, more than 100 houses were burnt down by ISU's security forces. In 2013, Ben Chinangan and Junior once were killed by unknown gunmen. According to earlier statements from human rights group Karapatan-Cagayan Valley, the two along with other leaders and members received death threat.

In 2014, another leader Romulo dela Cruz was abducted and still missing until now.

In March 16 of this year, Amari leader Virgilio Leotorco was shot several times by armed men while catching frogs for supper. Leotorco, a migrant from Kalinga was active in the campaign of Amari.

The latest incident was in August 13 when another leader of Amari, Vic Felciano was arrested and slapped with attempted and frustrated murder charges. The bail for him to have temporary freedom was P1 million.