Portion of the testimony of Datu Roelito Gawilan during the public inquiry of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on the killing of Fr. Fausto Tentorio, PIME. The three-day inquiry, which started on May 22, was led by CHR chair Loretta Rosales.
Gawilan admitted the existence of Bagani warriors but denied that he is among of them. Instead, the tribal leader claimed that he had a “good relationship” with the late missionary.
In PIME Philippines blog, Tentorio posted that armed Bagani men allegedly hunted him when he visited one of the remote villages in Kitaotao, Bukidnon in October 6, 2003. The Bagani warriors were reportedly guided by Tata and Abing Gawilan.
Hundreds of people — including survivors and relatives of those who perished — gathered 40 days since super typhoon Pablo hit on December 4, 2012. A mass was offered for the victims on January 13 at the San Antonio de Padua Parish as well as at the San Roque Chapel in Brgy Andap.
While a ritual was also held at Brgy Andap, particularly at the former barangay center site, which is now covered with rocks and boulders due to a flashflood spawned by typhoon Pablo.
A month after super typhoon Pablo devastated New Bataan town in Compostela Valley province, survivors are slowly picking up the pieces to rebuild their lives.
The first time I passed this route was in December 2007. I was traveling from Boston back to Davao City. I could still remember the lush surrounding along the road. But on December 21 — 17 days after Typhoon Pablo — all you could see are fallen trees, broken trunks, landslides and water is almost everywhere. One more heavy rain and more portions of the road will collapse.
An approximate path of the flashflood that wiped out barangay Andap proper in New Bataan, Compostela Valley province as Typhoon Pablo makes a landfall in nearby province of Davao Oriental on December 4, 2012. This illustration is based on the testimonies of the survivors I have interviewed. This is also based on the photographs I have taken before and after the flashflood.
The flashflood left thousands of people homeless, as it also destroyed the productive farmlands of this valley town.
Typhoon Pablo devastated almost half of the Mindanao island on December 4, leaving at least 900 people dead and almost a thousand others missing. This is perhaps the worst natural disaster that hit the supposed “typhoon-free” region. The storm left thousands of people homeless and in dire need of food, water, medicine and shelter.
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/14 December)– “Miracle ang nangyari sa akin (What happened to me was a miracle),” Second Lieutenant Jose Enrico Nuas said of his harrowing experience while Typhoon Pablo battered them last week.
In fact, “God” was the only word that the junior officer recalled uttering that time while struggling to resurface from the raging waters in Barangay Andap, New Bataan in Compostela Valley province, one of the hardest hit areas of the typhoon.
Recuperating from various wounds at a military hospital here, the 26-year old officer recalled his tormenting experience after they were washed away by flashflood on December 4. Read More »
MONKAYO, Compostela Valley (MindaNews/ 13 December)—In times of natural disasters, it is not just human beings who suffer a lot.
Animals do too.
HOMELESS, TOO Typhoon Pablo’s wrath did not only leave humans homeless but animals, too. Like these dogs sharing some space with their masters at the evacuation center in Compostela town in Compostela Valley province. Mindanews Photo by Keith Bacongco
Like humans, companion pets such as cats, dogs and farm animals were also rendered homeless when Typhoon Pablo devastated several towns in this province, Davao Oriental, Agusan del Sur and other provinces. Read More »
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 23 Jan) – “If we only have a choice, we don’t want to live here.”
