Philippine Army denies harassing Benedictine nun, 3 others in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - The Army's 10th Infantry Division stood firm in its commitment to serve the nation amidst alleged harassment complaints from a nun and three other civilians in Davao Oriental province from members of the environmentalist group Panalipdan, which involved a nun, Sister Stella Matutina, from the Order of Saint Benedictine, and 3 others - Wenceslao Mapa, Maria Fe Matibo and Gil Centenales.

They complained of being arrested, detained and harassed by members of the 67th Infantry Battalion in Cateel town in Davao Oriental.

As per report, armed men were found in the Barangay Hall of Brgy Taytayan, Cateel. The report also mentioned the presence of a Barangay Kagawad from a different municipality and a nun. This scenario heightened the anxiety of concerned citizens in the area leading them to report the situation to the proper authorities.

Lt. Col. Rolando Bautista, a spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division of the Army, strongly denied the allegations of harassment against military personnel.

In a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner, he stated that the soldiers responded to a reliable report from local populace by proceeding to the place where the consolidation of the armed group was reported.

The soldiers were surprised to see Sister Stella Matutina in the said place. She was asked some questions as part of the Standard Operating Procedures of the military and was then turned over to the parish priest of Cateel.

The military has continuously struggled to protect the civilians in rebel-infested areas like Cateel. Upon receiving reports of rebel movements or armed elements, it is their primary duty to investigate and probe into such activities. In this case of Sister Stella, the military is relentless in their position that no form of harassment was inflicted on the nun.

It is only but customary for military personnel to bring high-powered firearms when on operation and to be strong in carrying out their missions without the intention of imposing fear on civilians. Operations like this are done to verify reports of unusual or suspicious activities and not to terrorize the people contrary to what is being claimed by some.

In the case of Sister Stella, the 10ID is evaluating several facts. First point was her presence in the area of Barangay Taytayan, Cateel without proper coordination.

It was even reported that Fr. Nestor Morata, parish priest of Cateel, was dismayed when he found out that Sister Stella Matutina and her environmentalist group conducted a meeting/seminar in the area without coordinating with his office.

Second, during the military operation, Sister Stella was in civilian attire which was the reason why she was not identified and recognized as a nun. The military troop who conducted the operation had to wait until they received confirmation that she was indeed a nun.

In her statement, Sister Stella mentioned that nuns do not wear their habit when sleeping. Looking into this, it is even more dangerous that she slept in a barangay hall rather than in a parish convent where she will be safer.

Another fact is that Sister Stella claims that she was arrested along with three other members of Panalipdan which military officials strongly denied and confirmed by Fr. Morata’s statement, “Tama yung sinabi nung military na hindi nila inaresto ang madre. Tinanong lang nila yung madre then tinurn-over na nila dito sa amin.” Fourth, Sister Stella has only been here in the Philippines for almost two years since her last assignment, which lasted 18 years, was in Europe.
On the other hand, Panalipdan, an environmentalist group whose main advocacy is for environmental awareness and protection, was established only April of last year. These are the reasons that brought Sister Stella and Panalipdan members to Brgy. Taytayan for an information campaign on certain environmental issues despite the danger in these areas.

With the very short time that Sister Stella has stayed in the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao, she has not fully grasped the real threat in these rebel-infested areas.

This could also be true with Panalipdan since as a non-government organization, they have only existed for a while and perhaps, have not experienced or encountered various situations in Mindanao.

They may have known of the environmental threats in the area but in that short span of time, they may have been unaware of the intensity of danger caused by the rebel groups.

Lastly, Panalipdan released a statement that the Army is protecting the large-scale mining companies operating in the area of Davao Oriental. Military officials have reiterated that the presence of military troops in the area is mainly to neutralize the threats of rebel groups.

At the same time, the Army was deputized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to monitor the extortion activities of these lawless groups against mining companies and corporations operating in the area.

The incident in Cateel, along with the alleged harassment complaints against military personnel, prompted the military institution to once again emphasize their obligation to protect the Filipino people at all costs.

The military cannot stop civilians from coming in and out of these rebel-infested areas but they would like to appeal to the general public to make all the necessary coordination with the proper authorities.

Continuous military operations are conducted in these areas and it will be of great help if every person coming in could be monitored along with the activities they engage in.
To ensure the security situation of certain areas in Mindanao, the 10ID cannot risk being lenient especially when civilians’ lives may be put in danger.

Finally, the 10ID takes a firm stand that if indeed their soldiers have violated the human rights of Sister Stella and the three other members of Panalipdan, then, they should file a case and allow the involved members of the Armed Forces to have a fair trial. They will respond to these complaints in the proper forum.

EDITORIAL: When Press Freedom Is Under Threat

We have been noticing suspicious persons near our office in Zamboanga City. Suspicious in a way, that these men - some on motorcycles, others in vans - are watching our movement. We sense danger. Others who noticed these men say they speak in Tausug, a dialect widely used in the province of Sulu. Our staffs are being followed by these men and we have reasons to believe that our safety is under threat.

Last December 28, somebody fired a shot at our editorial office. The bullet pierced the Mindanao Examiner signboard, left a hole on our shutter door and the thick glass stopped the slug. Daytime security guards say the shot was probably fired after midnight or else the one on duty should have at least seen the attacker. The security agency reported the matter to the building owner and to the police the next day, December 29.

Welcoming the Year of the Ox in 2009 is really not something to be happy about, especially when persons with ill motives are tailing us. The year 2008 was also not good for us. Our editor Al Jacinto was tagged persona non grata by the City Council of Zamboanga over news articles about the so-called Bangsamoro Juridical Entity that politicians did not like.

In Zamboanga, journalists have become an easy target for hired killers. With five journalists murdered in Zamboanga over the years, the threat to press freedom continues.

We don't know why our staffs are being targeted, but we believe that all these have something to do with the series of news stories we have been writing about politicians in Sulu. We have been receiving text messages from unknown people criticizing good politicians that we write about.

Who would dare to do all these things and dispatched armed men to intimidate us or perhaps hunt us down? We counted at least a dozen different Tausug-speaking men, in jackets, sunglasses, helmets, caps and guns tucked on their waist - in different motorbikes, in vans and they seemed so desperate to find us.

It's too bad that they cannot accept what we write or report about and that's the truth – the hatred in their hearts has already poisoned their mind.

We have prepared a short list of names of people, who, we believed should be held accountable in case anything happen to us. We have spoken to several people in authorities and told them the grim scenario. This is part of being in the media and the hazards of the job are just one thing journalists should always be prepared about.

Press freedom is all about democracy. It is all about the freedom to write the truth, to tell the truth and to speak the truth. We just hope that all these shall come to pass and the light of truth continues to shine. (The Mindanao Examiner)

Photo: Mindanao Examiner Office Is Shot At In Southern Philippines

A private security guard from the Continental Security Agency shows a caliber .40 slug recovered Monday, December 29, 2008 from the office of the independent newspaper the Mindanao Examiner in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines. The bullet was believed fired from across the office late Sunday and pierced through the signboard before hitting the steel roll shutter. The agency is still investigating whether the Mindanao Examiner, which is located at the 3rd floor of the MP Towers Building is the target of the attack. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)