The armed conflict situation in the context of the GRP-NDFP remains volatile as it was in 2016 due unstable condition of the Peace talk between the two parties. The situation on the ground was basically dependent on the development of the peace talk based on the influx of the reports coming from our partners on the ground. In the first two months of the year-this was at the height of the terrorist tagging of the New People’s Army (NPA) and its alleged supporters by the President Rodrigo Dutertean, numerous encounters were recorded in the first two months, some resulted to internal displacements in the areas of Surigao del Sur involving 758 families and 115 individuals in Agusan Del sur-all coming from indigenous People’s (IP) communities. Other result of intensified encounters are Grave Child Rights Violations (GCRV) such as the maiming of two children in Quezon and detention of a minor in Compostella Valley who was attending a youth activity. There were recorded killings of IP Leaders and those allegedly connected with the rebel groups.
For the month of March, there was a sudden drop in the number of reported case primarily because it was at this juncture that the parties started doing back-channelling talks again in preparation for 5th Round of talk. Nonetheless, there were still violence perpetrated by the parties such as harassments in IP Schools, Killing of civilians and internal displacements caused by encounters in San Luis, Agusan Del Sur affecting 100 IP families. In April, several cases of attacked on civilians were monitored such as the killing of a Jehova Witnesses pastor in Surigao, Del Norte, abduction and inforced disappearance of IP couple in Arakan, North Cotabato and killing of a retired police and army in Negros Occidental. Again, at the height violence, children were not spared since during those attacks, children were also caught in crossfire resulting to killing or Maiming. One of them who was a legitimate civilian based on the statements of the parents, teachers and other people who knew him, was declared by the government forces as Child Soldier.
In the month of May and June, attacks on civilians continued either through direct attacks and civilians caught in crossfire. In Trento, Agusan Del Sur, a mother and her 8-yearl old daughter were attacked by unknown assailant resulting to the death of the mother while the minor survived. The connection of the mother to the rebel group was the alleged motive of the attack. Several minors also were wounded after the rebel group fired at them when they failed to stop at the checkpoint in San Fernando, Masbate. Other violations recorded are, burning of properties in Negros Occidental and Antique and internal displacement in Brgy. Umiray, General Nakar, Quezon Province. In the month of June also, the number of armed encounters in many areas has increased particularly in the later part of the month due to the cancellation of the scheduled 5th round of talk.
In the current month (July) reports from the areas keeps coming in as both parties intensified its operation in the wake of the cancellation of the 5th round of peace negotiation. Several encounters resulting to killing of minors and internal displacement were recorded in Davao city, Magpet, North cotabato and lianga, Surigao Del Sur. As of this writing, 1,607 individuals from 328 Lumad families evacuated from their ancestral domain due to alleged military presence, harassments and other human rights violations by the government forces. The evacuees are currently staying at a gym in Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao Del Sur. There are reports also of blockade of humanitarian assistance wherein the assistance given by the church and other organization to the evacuees are being blocked by the Military and police.
