Kalampagan para sa Mindoro: Katribu lambasts Marcos Jr., AFP over militarization, bombings in Mangyan ancestral lands

QUEZON CITY – Indigenous peoples and human rights advocates staged a Black Friday protest at the Boy Scout Circle on January 16 to condemn the indiscriminate aerial bombings and strafing carried out by the 203rd Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) against Mangyan-Iraya communities in Sitio Mamara, Brgy. Cabacao, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro, on January 1, 2026.

The protest, organized by Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas together with allied organizations under the banner “Kalampagan para sa Mindoro: Itigil ang militarisasyon sa lupang ninuno! Marcos Jr., AFP, Panagutin!”, called for justice for the victims and full accountability from the Marcos Jr. administration and the AFP.

Beverly Longid, national convener of Katribu, slammed the Marcos regime for its terror in Mindoro. “The Marcos regime must be held accountable for the blood spilled and lives destroyed by its bombings, militarization, and corporate-driven plunder. Mangyan communities have been terrorized, their lands devastated, their children killed. This is plain evil. Marcos Jr., as AFP chief, bears direct responsibility and must answer for every death, every violation, and every act of destruction. The world must not remain silent while the Philippine state wages terror against Indigenous Peoples,” Longid said, urging the international community and human rights advocates to stand with the Mangyan in defense of their ancestral lands, rights, and lives.

The attacks killed three Mangyan-Iraya children and Jerlyn Rose Doydora, a student researcher documenting Indigenous life and culture. The children’s mother was wounded, and youth activist Chantal Anicoche remains detained by the AFP’s 2nd Infantry Division despite no charges.

Kakay Tolentino of the Bai Indigenous Women’s Network underscored the link between militarization and corporate interests: “Hindi humuhupa ang militarisasyon sa Mindoro dahil ito ang sandata ng rehimeng Marcos Jr. sa pangangamkam ng lupang ninuno. Ang pambobomba sa pamayanang Mangyan-Iraya ay ginagamit upang i-terrorize ang mga Katutubo na nagtatanggol sa kanilang lupa at karapatan sa sariling pagpapasya.”

Youth leader Ryan Serquina of Kabataan para sa Tribung Pilipino denounced the military’s smear campaigns against victims. “Insulto sa ala-ala ni Jerlyn ang sabihing siya ay nalinlang. Kritikal na pag-iisip at malasakit sa mamamayan ang nagtulak sa kanya na makipamuhay sa mga Katutubo. Ang tunay na mali ay ang paggamit ng pondo ng bayan sa pambobomba at pagpaslang sa mga komunidad.”

Meanwhile, Ephin Falyao of Siklab Philippine Indigenous Youth Network highlighted the killing of children as a grave crime. “Mga bata ang pinaslang ng estado. Walang ‘intelligence-driven’ operation sa pagpatay ng mga bata. Ito ay lantad na paglapastangan sa karapatang pantao, International Humanitarian Law, at karapatan ng mga bata.”

Drawing parallels with Indigenous struggles elsewhere, Julieta Gomez of Sandugo - Movement of Moro and Indigenous Peoples for Self-Determination said the attacks in Mindoro mirror long-standing abuses faced by Lumad communities in Mindanao. “Ang nangyayari sa mga Mangyan sa Mindoro ay hindi naiiba sa dinaranas ng mga Lumad sa Mindanao–militarisasyon, pambobomba, at pananakot upang palayasin ang mga Katutubo sa kanilang lupang ninuno,” Gomez said. “Iisa ang mukha ng karahasang ito, at iisa rin ang panawagan namin: itigil ang atake laban sa mga Katutubo at panagutin ang mga may sala.”

Protesters symbolically crossed out the faces of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., Vice President Sara Duterte, and AFP Chief Romeo Brawner Jr., along with logos of AFP’s 203rd Infantry Brigade and 2nd Infantry Division, National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, in red paint to symbolize blood, denunciation, and complicity. Bells tolled, and a noise barrage highlighted the silenced realities on the ground.

Funa-ay Claver of Katribu, who personally visited Mangyan communities in Abra de Ilog last year, stressed the urgency of justice. “Nakita namin ang takot, trauma, at patuloy na militarisasyon sa mga komunidad ng Mangyan. Hindi propaganda ang sinasabi ng mga Katutubo–ito ang kanilang araw-araw na karanasan. Ang kailangan ay hustisya, tulong na makarating sa biktima, at agarang pagpapatigil sa operasyong militar sa kanilang lupang ninuno.”

Katribu reiterated its uncompromising demands to hold the Marcos Jr. regime and the AFP fully accountable for the killings and destruction, to immediately pull out all military forces from Mangyan ancestral lands, to release Chantal Anicoche, and to deliver justice to the victims of the January 1 bombings. #

Reference:

Beverly Longid

Katribu National Convener

Katribu Public Information Desk

information@katribu.net