Eight prelates in Western Visayas and Romblon, including Cardinal Jose Advincula of Capiz, denounced the killing of nine leaders and members of the indigenous peoples in Panay during police operations on December 30 in Iloilo and Capiz provinces.
In a pastoral letter dated January 15, they said: “We, the bishops of Western Visayas, share the grief and anxieties of our brothers and sisters of the Tumandok tribe in Tapaz, Capiz. We grieve with the families of the nine Tumandok tribespeople who were killed.”
They added, “We share the sufferings of those arrested and of their families. We empathize with the fear and insecurities of those displaced by the atrocities. And we condemn in the strongest possible terms, all the killings and especially, the killings of our brothers – the tumandok.”
The pastoral letter, which they mandated to be read in all the masses in all the churches of Western Visayas on January 24, was signed by Advincula, Jaro Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo, and Bishops Patricio Buzon of Bacolod, Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos, Louie Galbines of Kabankalan, Jose Corazon Tala-oc of Kalibo, Narciso Abellana of Romblon, Marvyn Maceda of San Jose de Antique.
They demanded a thorough investigation by an independent body to ascertain what really happened on December 30; that once again we – government, the church, the business community – listen to the legitimate cries of the Tumandoks against the construction of the Jalaur Mega Dam; that the militarization of the IP communities should stop immediately so that the Tumandoks can go home and live in peace again;
That the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines follow conscientiously the ethical standards in the rules of engagement in their police or military operations; and that police officers be required to use body cameras in all police operations to protect the police against false accusations, as well as protect the civilians from the use of violence or abuse of power such as planting of evidence, illegal arrest and even killings.
“We call on everyone to be highly vigilant in defending the sacredness of life and in respecting and protecting the rights of all,” they said.
They also encouraged the Ilonggo community to reach out in compassion to the bereaved and displaced Tumandoks.
On December 30, the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6), based in Iloilo City, simultaneously served 28 search warrants in the villages of Tapaz, Capiz province and Calinog, Iloilo province.
During the operations, nine died, including barangay officials, and 10 were arrested in Tapaz, while seven suspects were nabbed in Calinog, Iloilo province.
The fatalities and those who were arrested were said to be leaders and members of the IP belonging to the Panay Tumandok, but the police maintained that the operations were due to the reports that they were armed.*