#magsaysaymassacre

[anakbayaneastbay]

Fact Finding Mission at Fort Magsaysay

For Immediate Release:

September 27,2016

Reference: Roberta Ryan, Secretary General, robertaruthryan@gmail.com

Anakbayan East Bay strongly condemns the brutal massacre of four unarmed farmers at Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation (FMMR) at Nueva Ecija, Philippines.

On September 3, 2016, over 40 farmers entered Lot 28 of FMMR to participate in bungkalan or collective farming as a part of the organization Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid na Nagkakaisa 3100 (ALMANA), which roughly translated means Alliance of United Farmers. At 2:30PM, the first gunshot was heard, followed by 30 minutes to an hour of continuous shooting. The farmers scattered and ran. The first casualty was Eligio Barbado, who was shot and fell off the roof of a hut as he attempted to escape. After the shooting ended, members of ALMANA accounted for one another and found that 3 farmers were missing. Sisters Baby Mercado and Violeta Mercado and Gaudencio Bagalay were found huddled underneath a bed in a hut. Their bodies were unrecognizable: 21 gunshot wounds were found in one victim, several exit wounds, arms and limbs detached from the bodies. 3 of the victims were new recruits, and it had been their first day to farm on the land.

On September 12, 2016, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid ng Gitnang Luzon (AMGL) organized a fact finding mission to validate details of the incident, collect history of the land and human rights violations, assess immediate needs of the survivors, and show solidarity and support for the victims. Over 20 participants from regional, national, and international organizations interviewed survivors of the massacre and families of victims and investigated the scene of the crime. These are the findings and observations generated by the delegation.

HISTORY OF AGRARIAN DISPUTE (See KMP statement for further details): Since 1993, the farmers have advocated for the land to be distributed among the farmers. After the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, 3,100 hectares (Lots 18, 23, 28, and 29) of Fort Magsaysay (73,000 hectares total) was granted to the surviving farmers. Farmers organized themselves and formed ALMANA, in an advanced system under which farmers can apply and get approved to farm on a plot of land. Farmers must be able to till their plot of land and not yet own land. New ALMANA recruits are oriented on the risks of the area, given the long history of harassment. Under the bogus Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), the farmers of Fort Magsaysay legally own the land. However, landgrabbers, including the military, politicians, and bureaucrat capitalists, and their goons have harassed farmers and demolished/divested property. Survivors testified that men entered the hut of landgrabber and suspected perpetrator Colonel Rigor the night before the massacre. The first gunshot was heard from Rigor's hut. After the massacre, goons blocked off the area of the incident so that farmers could not enter then went to Rigor's hut. Landgrabber, Marcos crony, and suspected perpetrator Cuevas owns nearby resorts and a mini zoo and plans to build a resort at Lot 29. Areas are fenced off with signs that say "No Trespassing," on the land that rightfully belongs to farmers of ALMANA.

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS: Farmers at Fort Magsaysay have long suffered harassment and surveillance, escalating to the systematic and brutal killings on September 3. In January 2015, huts were torched and burned down. In March 2016, farmers heard indiscriminate firing. More recently in July 2016, someone was shot. They have recovered and are currently out of the hospital. In mid August 2016, the month leading up to the massacre, farmers were harassed by Col. Rigor's goons and caretaker (from notes: surprise visit, 4 others confront surprise "tungkol"). On August 26, farmers heard 2 gunshots at 9:00PM and 9:30PM. Before the massacre on September 3, survivors allegedly heard a helicopter that may have transported weaponry or goons. The state of the bodies and bullet shells found demonstrates the excessive brutality with which the victims were killed. They were shot in excess with long rifles at close range.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Local government and state authorities have not responded to or acted on the massacre. Possible connivance is suspected. On the day of the massacre, Palayan PNP arrived at 4pm at the nearby army bunkhouse but did not enter the premise, claiming it was not within their jurisdiction. Laur PNP arrived at 5PM but did not enter, claiming it was raining too hard. The bodies were retrieved by the state at 11PM, meaning they were laying out for at least 8 hours. The fact finding mission delegation visited the nearby 7th infantry division bunkhouse during the mission, inquiring a statement or response. The representative stated that if the perpetrators were connected to Colonel Rigor, they would not do anything because it would not be within their jurisdiction.

TAMPERING OF EVIDENCE & SURVEILLANCE: Houses were destroyed, including the houses where the bodies were found. Homes of survivors were ransacked. While it was reported that victims had as many as 21 gunshot wounds, only 6 bullet shells total were found. The delegation noted being followed on the road on the way to the fact finding mission and binoculars from Col. Rigor's hut.

CONTINUED HARASSMENT AND DISPOSITION OF SURVIVORS: Survivors reported that unidentified military personnel visited wounded victims in the hospital and families of victims in their homes, in a continuation of harassment and intimidation. Families who lived and worked at Lot 28 are not able to return to the site of the massacre out of trauma and have fled to a nearby community. There is a high need for psychosocial, legal, and medical assistance.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Launch an immediate and independent investigation to be done by a special body.

Assertion of the farmers' right to till and the genuine distribution of the disputed 3,100 hectares of land at Fort Magsaysay.

Further organizing, consolidating, and strengthening ALMANA.

Pursue legal redress and the persecution of perpetrators.

Further assistance from organizations: livelihood, medical, psychosocial, legal.

Pursue dialogues with relevant governmental departments.

Condemn the inaction of the 7th infantry division and perpetuation of impunity.

Disband and disarm all paramilitary groups and private armies.

Liberation in the Philippines is rooted in our collective right to the land. Our right to exist peacefully, to have our basic needs met, to defend ourselves against harassment, intimidation, and death by corporations and the state.

Stop killing our farmers!

Disband private armies!

End the culture of impunity!

Land to the tillers!

Justice for the victims of Fort Magsaysay Massacre!