Lumad schools report military presence on first day of classes

MANILA, Philippines — The opening of classes was marked by heavy military presence at Lumad schools, Save our Schools Network Mindanao said on Monday.

Rius Valle, spokesperson of SOS-Mindanao, told Philstar.com that the organization has received reports of military activity in communities near Salugpongan Ta-Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center (STTILCI) in Davao del Norte.

“We were told that they were flying drones,” Valle said, adding that students and teachers are afraid of the military in the area.

Valle said that SOS has recorded 33 schools that have been “forcibly closed” in Sultan Kudarat and Saranggani provinces.

Some schools have also been shut down in Bukidnon, Agusan del Sur, Surigao and Davao del Norte.

In a statement sent Monday afternoon, Joan Esperancilla of STTILCI, slammed the “intimidation of the military and paramilitary forces against teachers, students and community members of Talaingod, Davao Del Norte.”

“Military troops have occupied our schools and conducted roving operations that hamper members of our schools since the start of our preparations since early last week,” Esperancilla added.

According to the teacher, 20 members of the Philippine Army’s 51^st Infantry Battalion have been staying inside the school since May 29. The uniformed men “accosted” community teachers and asked them for identification, Esperancilla said.

Esperancilla also said that there are soldiers “camping” in Sitio KM 17, Barangay Dagohoy and  Sitio Laslasakan, Barangay Palma Gil, Talaingod. Armed soldiers also entered the campus.

“We condemn these series of events as violations of international and national law protecting schools from the presence of armed personnel in the school and in communities, as these incidents have affected 241 students and 11 teachers in five campuses,” the statement, sent through SOS Network, reads.

Philstar.com sought comment and clarification from Col. Edgardo Arevalo, spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, but he stopped replying to queries.  Arevalo has yet to respond as of this post.

In 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to bomb Lumad schools, saying that the learning centers only teach children to rebel against the government. The community-run schools denied Duterte’s accusation.

Duterte later clarified that he would only have “empty” Lumad schools bombed.

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