Thread by @savelumadschool

LUMAD BAKWIT SCHOOL STUDENTS LOSE SCHOOL AGAIN IN BUKIDNON

On June 5, 2021, the 72nd Infantry Battalion Philippine Army coerced residents, mostly Lumad, to demolish the Lumad school facilitated by Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Inc in Barangay Sagundanon, Bukidnon.

According to Lumad students here in the Bakwit School, their parents called them a week earlier saying they were being forced by soldiers to participate in the demolition or else they will face trumped up charges and arrest if they fail to cooperate.

“Natatakot kami para sa aming pamilya doon dahil palagi daw sila binabantayan ng mga sundalo. Kahit nga sa pagtawag sa amin, kailangan pa nilang magtago dahil natatakot din sila para sa amin.” Chricelyn, a Grade 12 student said.

“This is the 2nd time Chricelyn & her classmates lost their school. In 2015, they were traumatized when soldiers & village officials threatened them to leave their school. Their trauma is revisited as their school is being torn apart,” said SOS Network spokesperson, Rius Valle.

The students said their parents told them that soldiers who took part in demolishing the school wore civilian clothes to show that they were "residents". Several posts also validated that present in the destruction of the school was 72nd IB Battalion Commander Jose Regonay Jr.

“This has been the trend among AFP & NTFELCAC. They parade civilians as fake surrenders, force them to destroy the schools they'vebuilt, then coerce them to file trumped up cases against teachers, leaders and human rights defenders as what happened recently in Cebu and Davao." RV

Despite the trauma and fear, children vowed to expose the relentless attacks and rights violations even during the pandemic.

#DefendBakwitSchools
#DefendTheDefenders
#StandWithTheLumad
#DefendAncestralLands
#AbolishNTFELCAC