Stop the Attacks: Uphold IP Rights, Int’l Humanitarian Law

[TAGALOG] Itigil ang Atake: Itaguyod ang Karapatan ng Katutubo, Pandaigdigang Makataong Batas

As we mark International Humanitarian Law Day and the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples this August, Panaghiusa Philippine Network to Uphold Indigenous Peoples' Rights raises its voice in urgent condemnation of the escalating violations of human rights and International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in Southern Tagalog.

The Indigenous Peoples and advocates pose to oppose the continuing violations of human rights and International Humanitarian Law by state forces in Southern Tagalog.

The brutal killing of farmer Juan Sumilhig on August 1 in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, by the 4th Infantry Battalion was not an isolated incident—it was part of a broader campaign of militarization and repression targeting Indigenous communities and peasant populations across Mindoro.

Just one week after Sumilhig’s death, on August 7, another violent military operation unfolded in Sitio Bagong Pook, Barangay Happy Valley, Roxas, Oriental Mindoro. According to Karapatan Southern Tagalog, two alleged members of the New People’s Army were killed in an encounter with the 1st Infantry Battalion. This follows a history of military aggression in Roxas, including the March 2022 artillery shelling that affected over 6,000 residents, with seven rounds of Howitzer cannon fire and three rounds of strafing from a V150 tank.

These successive operations reinforce the reality of a de facto martial law gripping both Oriental and Occidental Mindoro. The presence of military forces in Indigenous communities has severely undermined the rights of Mangyan to livelihood, self-determination, and safety. Residents live in fear, unable to speak freely or defend their rights without risking retaliation. The humanitarian team from Karapatan Southern Tagalog, which attempted to conduct a fact-finding mission in Roxas, was met with intimidation and obstruction—further evidence of the military’s efforts to suppress truth and accountability.

We call for an immediate halt to military operations in Indigenous territories and full accountability for the killing of Juan Sumilhig and the subsequent attacks in Roxas. Independent investigations must be conducted with transparency and community participation. The 4th and 1st Infantry Battalions, along with the 203rd Infantry Brigade and 2nd Infantry Division, must be held accountable for their violations of IHL and the rights of Indigenous and peasant communities.

The Philippine government must end its counterinsurgency program that targets civilians and instead uphold its obligations under the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and the Geneva Conventions.

These commemorative days must compel action. Indigenous communities are not collateral damage—they are rights-holders, stewards of the land, and vital voices in the pursuit of justice and peace.

We stand in unwavering solidarity with the Indigenous Peoples of Mindoro and Southern Tagalog. We urge civil society, the media, faith communities, and international allies to amplify this call and demand accountability.

Uphold human rights and International Humanitarian Law! #

Reference:

Rikki Mae Gono

National Coordinator

Panaghiusa Philippine Network to Uphold Indigenous Peoples’ Rights