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First Posted on Inside Mindanao: June 20, 2007

TVI exec apologizes to Subanon tribe
for human rights violations
committed by company
By Ellen Red

Continued from page 1

In 2002, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Region 9, through its director, Jose Manuel Mamauag, released an investigation report on the alleged development aggression of TVI.

CHR reported that TVI secured its mining area with security forces belonging to the Special Civilian Armed Auxiliary (SCAA).

The human rights commission added, "Basically SCAA members were trained, supplied with arms and with allowance from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). They were designed to assist the regular government forces in the maintenance of peace and order in their respective barangays. Surprisingly however, these SCAA under the TVI performed their duties in such a manner that as if the TVI is their employer when it should be the residents whom they should serve. These SCAA members even harassed the residents."

CHR then recommended that a "representation be made before the AFP-Southern Command for administrative action against the erring SCAA members."

Early this year, 29-year-old Vivian Balingit, a Siocon resident, reported to the UN Representative for Indigenous Peoples that while walking on the road in Canatuan with her three children and husband, she was blocked by four armed SCAA members.

Ms. Balingit, daughter of Subanon tribal leader Jose Anoy (who has consistently opposed the operation of TVI in Siocon), reported that one of the SCAA members pushed the tip of his rifle on her stomach, right shoulder, and right temple.

"They said the road is not ours but belongs to the TVI so we should pass through the forest," Ms. Balingit said.

Also, last June 16, a number; that is, 12 residents of Canatuan executed similar affidavits alleging TVI of development aggression. Specifically, in the affidavit executed by Mely Daguhoy, she alleged that her house was bulldozed and her crops uprooted by TVI with the aid of SCAA.