Help Pablo Survivors, Stop Military Operations in Loreto, Agusan del Sur

A People Who Survived Super Typhoon Pablo

The farmers and indigenous people of Loreto, Agusan del Sur are among the thousands who have gravely suffered from the super typhoon Pablo. Loreto, a third class municipality, is comprised of 17 regular barangays with a total population of 34,549 (2007).

  Barangays Binucayan, Johnson, Magaud, Nueva Gracia, Poblacion, San Isidro, San Mariano, San Vicente, Santa Teresa, Santo Tomas, Violanta, Waloe, Kasapa, Katipunan, Kauswagan, Santo Niño, and Sabud of Loreto  were among the worstly-affected places by Pablo in Agusan del Sur.

The people in these barangays thought they`ve lost everything after super typhoon  Pablo destroyed their homes, and their livelihood.

But with all the available help from concerned groups, they found hope and they stood up, bravely faced whatever little or nothing Pablo left for them to survive.

Most importantly, they found and held on to one thing they have to survive - EACH OTHER and THEIR COMMUNITY.



COLLECTIVE ACTION is the KEY

With all the members of their respective communities helping each other, surviving the aftermath of Pablo was bright. It was never without challenge, but it was full of hope. They learned cooperation and collective action.

While Pablo wrought havoc into their lives, it also made them realize to build communities that from then on would work together as one in all aspects - economic, political, cultural and social.

So they founded an association, the Kahugpungan alang sa Kalambuan (KASAKA) and through it they  established organized and collective economic activities, rebuilt their homes, constructed schools and held trainings and seminars.

This collective act is also reflected in resolutions and campaigns discussed in the communities such as their stand to oppose the entry and operation of large-scale foreign mining, expansion of large-scale monocrop plantations and large-scale logging.

This again, was part of the realization triggered by the super typhoon - active defense of our environment for the future generation. They have realized that this can only be done by defending their land and livelihood.

MILITARIZATION DISRUPTED the REHABILITATION of their COMMUNITIES

Troops coming from the 26th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) along with the paramilitary group the Bagani Force in Agusan del Sur are sowing fear and terror among civilian population in the many barangays of Loreto.

Terror has resulted from a series of human righs violations perpetrated by the 26th IB and the BAGANI such as illegal arrests and torture of 2 civilian minors, physical assault, harassments, and hamletting.

As a result, the people were forced to evacuate from their homes and leave their farms and livelihood.

Just as how they survived Pablo, they are determined to work collectively to defend their lands and to fight for their rights. Still, humanitarian assistance and solidarity is of great need.

HELP hundreds of families of Pablo survivors, forcibly evacuated due to intensified military operations now!

SUPPORT and RE-ECHO the FOLLOWING CALLS:

• Immediate pullout of military troops and paramilitary forces (Bagani) from Loreto, Agusan del Sur!
• Junk trumped-up charges filed against two innocent minors (John & Allan)!
• Stop military operations in Loreto, Agusan del Sur now!
• Oppose the entry of large-scale mining and plantations in Loreto, Agusan del Sur!
• Stop and oppose large-scale logging!
• Support the Rehabilitation of Pablo-hit barangays in Loreto, Agusan del Sur not Militarization!
• Genuine Land Reform Now!

Please HELP Provide any of the  FOLLOWING:

• food packs
• water bottles
• medicines
• clothings
• beddings (blankets, sleeping mats, etc)
• kitchen and eating untensils
• logistics
• volunteers
• financial assistance
• services such as psychosocial, medical and relief