Women’s group to probe ‘atrocities’ in Mindoro

Gabriela secretary general and Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Liza Maza led women activists yesterday in launching the Women in Distress, Orphans in Woe Struggle (Widows) Against Violence, a fact-finding mission that would investigate charges of military atrocities in Mindoro Oriental.

"What we have now is military rule in Mindoro," Maza told the Cypress kapihan at the Tree House restaurant in Quezon City. "Soldiers are attacking hapless civilians, many of them women, with impunity."

Lawyer Juvy Magsino, vice mayor of Naujan town, said she herself had been harassed by the military on suspicion that she had been helping the communist rebel group New People’s Army (NPA). She told the news conference that high-ranking Army officials, including Col. Jovito Palparan, commanding officer of the Army’s 204th Brigade – have repeatedly warned her that they have placed her under surveillance because of her activities as an alleged NPA sympathizer.

"No one is safe from the military in Mindoro, even public officials like me," she said. Maza said that as a program, Widows Against Violence intends to bring to public consciousness the non-stop military operations in the province, which had affected many civilians.

She said even Gabriela members in the province have been targets of systematic harassment and intimidation.

"Two members have already been killed, many fear for their lives and many are constantly being harassed," she said.

The service mission will visit the towns in the province, beginning June 24. Gabriela will hold a free Women’s Clinic and distribute relief goods to residents and school supplies to children. Leaders of the service mission will also seek a dialogue with Army and police authorities in the province with the help of local government officials. — Romel Bagares