MANILA (UCAN): Bishop Noel Pedregosa of Malaybalay, the province of Bukidnon in Mindanao, the Philippines condemned a shooting in which five indigenous people were wounded while accompanied by a presidential candidate, Leody de Guzman, to occupy what they claimed was ancestral land as part of a land dispute protest.
Gunmen, believed to be security guards at a pineapple plantation in San Jose, opened fire on De Guzman and members of the Manobo-Pulangihon indigenous group on April 19.
De Guzman has been campaigning among farmers and indigenous people in the region.
Bishop Pedregosa called the shooting unwarranted violence and said it was especially reprehensible for having taken place during the Easter season.
“It is extremely regrettable that this had to happen, especially during this continuing celebration of the Octave of Easter where the main message of the Lord to humanity through the Church is peace,” he said on April 21. He also called on political candidates not to lead farmers and indigenous people into volatile situations where they can be exposed to violence.
“To all candidates, kindly show mercy to our farmers … In our situation today, our farmers need mercy and compassion,” the bishop said.
The 62-year-old De Guzman is a farmer and an advocate for labour rights and the rights of indigenous people whose ancestral lands are allegedly being grabbed by giant corporations in the Philippines.
He and the indigenous people were discussing how they could reclaim a piece of land when shots were heard, which were caught on video. The shooting lasted 10 minutes.
The presidential hopeful later told reporters he came close to being killed, saying that one of the victims, who was shot in the chest, was standing right next to him.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
De Guzman claimed he was not the target of the shooting because he could have easily been killed during previous visits.
“I think their [the guards’] intention was to spread fear among the indigenous farmers … for them to tremble in fear for daring to fight for their ancestral lands,” he said.
