Question of justice, not a legal issue

The Union of People’s Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM) condemns the violent dispersal by the Davao City police of Typhoon “Pablo” survivors who massed up at the Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Office in Davao City, to demand the immediate release of relief goods due them. The excessive use of force on the disaster victims, which included the use of snipers and high-powered rifles, defies legal and moral justification.

The people’s frustration and the growing anger pushed them to the wall and they had to do what they needed to do to claim what was rightfully theirs. Accusations that they stole or looted relief goods from the DSWD compound are baseless. They did not take away the goods, they merely brought them out to the street in an attempt to force DSWD officials to a dialogue.

The DSWD is simply a trustee of the relief goods, which are intended precisely for the victims that Social Welfare Dinky Soliman accused of theft. An owner cannot steal from himself. Soliman’s announcement that she is filing charges against the Typhoon Pablo survivors and their organization Barug Katawhan smacks of suppression of freedoms—their right of expression, but more so their right to seek redress from a government whose social welfare department is inefficient, corrupt and extremely prejudiced against its clients.

It must be understood that the protesters are catastrophe victims who had been denied of government aid. They had long been suffering hunger after their livelihoods were destroyed by the typhoon. It will be months before their farms can be rehabilitated.

In a Jan. 15 dialogue with Barug Katawhan, Soliman and  DSWD Regional Director Priscilla Razon committed to release 10,000 sacks of rice. However, they also required before such release could be made a validated master list of would-be beneficiaries. Barug Katawhan proposed that the DSWD work with local government units to put together the master list, as it would be an additional burden for the already hungry, jobless and grieving survivors to undertake such task. But it seems that the DSWD is giving the survivors the legalistic and bureaucratic runaround in order to renege on its commitment.

This incident is not a question of legality; it is a question of justice and human rights. The state has an obligation to address the grievances of its people, and ensure the safe guarantee of the people’s right to food, shelter and freedom of expression.

UPLM stands by the people and will be with them in their continuing struggle for justice and peace!

—EDUARDO ESTORES,

chair, UPLM Davao Chapter,

Union of People’s Lawyers

in Mindanao,

[email protected]