Saturday, February 23, 2008

The Un-Reported Is...

Consider this news item from Philippine Star, February 23 2008:

2 soldiers dead, 8 hurt in Mindoro encounters (The Philippine Star)

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – Two Army soldiers were killed while eight others were wounded in separate encounters with the New People’s Army in the towns of San Jose and Magsaysay in Mindoro Occidental this week, an Army official said.

Maj. Randolf Cabangbang, of the Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command, identified one of the two slain soldiers as Pfc. Gonzalo Muyco of the 23rd Division Reconnaissance Company of the Philippine Army.

Eight men of the same Army unit were wounded. They were identified as 2Lt. Julius Daog, Sgt. Julito Cosgata, and Pfcs. Allan Curangcurang, Jerry Imalay, Herbert Lindog, Erwin Desinggano, Erwin Gomez, and Guillermo Reduca.

Cabangbang said the Army personnel were on a combat mission in Sitio Bantulaw, Barangay Paclolo in Magsaysay town last Tuesday when they chanced upon at least 30 rebels, resulting in a 30-minute firefight that led to Muyco’s death.

The following day, a member of the Charlie Company of the 80th Infantry Battalion was killed in an encounter in Sitio Quintal, Barangay Murtha in San Jose town. – Arnell Ozaeta


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Life is important, of course. Thus, the strongest counter argument against the continuing insurgency in the Philippines is the toll that it exacts on the lives of people.
Soldiers and rebels -- and even civilians -- are victimized by this internal strife.
Yes, I emphasize civilians. Specifically, as in the military encounters mentioned in the news item, the Mangyans of Occidental Mindoro.
And to think that they were not even mentioned in the news item.
The reporter made mentioned of two soldiers who were killed and eight who were injured. But no mention was made about the hundreds of Mangyans who were displaced from at least three communities in San Jose.
What to expect from people who do not even regard the existence of the Mangyans, by the way?
Malungkot ito...

2 comments:

Wired Mangyan said...

Isa pang problem is that most AFP-PNP members considered Mangyans as enemies, mga NPA daw ang mga Mangyan...nga pala baka gusto mo bumuo tayo ng Mindoro Bloggers Org...

DIDASKALOS said...

papatulan ko ang iyong suggestion.. sige, take the lead. susuportahan kita.
naiipit kasi ang mga mangyangs. sa kanilang lugar sa kabundukan nagkakampo ang mga npa. at kanilang lugar din naghahanap ng mga npa ang mga army. siyempre,dahil sa kanilang sariling lugar nagaganap ang gulo, apektado talaga sila..