The paramilitary group, Wild Dogs, attacked a Higaonon community in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur after staff of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) asked permission for the reopening of their Literacy and Numeracy (Lit-Num) School in the the municipality.
On June 10, 2011, Melissa Amado-Comiso, the coordinator of the Lit-Num program, accompanied by Datu Man-altuwan, Datu Mantapaos Man-atibay, Benhul Hagonoy, Negosyon Lagaolao, Carolina Namatidong and Kelly Sendatol, talked to Nida Manpatilan, the mayor of Esperanza. During their visit, Nida’s husband, Deo S. Manpatilan who is also the immediate former mayor of Esperanza, was there and accused the Lit-Num school to have taught children the ideas and songs of the Communist New Peoples Army. He further insisted that should the community want development, they should accept mining companies which could provide them with schools and other services. Continue reading “URGENT ALERT, PLEASE CIRCULATE: RMP Lit-Num school red-tagged, host community attacked by paramilitaries” »
