Human rights groups and advocates for indigenous rights condemned state forces for arresting Lumad Manobo leaders Michelle Campos and Genasque Enriquez. According to Karapatan, they received reports that Enriquez was arrested on March 2 and Campos on March 6.

Campos and Enriquez are known advocates for the rights of their communities against large mining and logging corporations in Lianga, Surigao del Sur. Because the Andap Valley in the Caraga region is rich in natural resources, it has been battered by multinational corporations such as Benguet Mining Corporation, Chinese companies Great Wall Mining and Power Corp., ASK Mining and Exploration Corp., Abacus Coal Exploration and Development Corp., and CoalBlack Mining Corp.

The two leaders have witnessed the twin militarization and build-up of military in Andap Valley to protect the interests of large mines and businesses. Campos is the daughter of Lianga Massacre victim Dionel Campos, one of three leaders killed by paramilitaries on September 1, 2015. Enriquez, on the other hand, previously served as Kahugpungan sa mga Lumadnong Organisasyon (KASALO) secretary general, and was arrested on murder charges in 2014 to harass him.

In its statement on the afternoon of March 7, Karapatan called for state forces to surface Campos and Enriquez. The group demanded recognition for the rights of the two. Karapatan’s call to surface the Lumad leaders quickly spread on social media that day.

A few hours after the statement, the 401st IBde released a statement that they had apprehended Campos and three other individuals at a checkpoint at midnight on March 6 in Barangay Das-agan, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur. Allegedly arrested with Campos were Aldren Baguio, Emelyn Acevido, and Jun Rey Tejero. The four are accused of being New People’s Army (NPA) Red fighters.

On March 10, a team from Katribu-Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas, Tanggol Magsasaka, Karapatan and Agham went to Butuan City to conduct a humanitarian mission to ensure the proper condition of those arrested. The group learned that Campos is at Democrito O. Plaza Memorial Hospital in Barangay Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, while Enriquez’s whereabouts and condition are still unknown. Soldiers also reportedly prohibited Campos from speaking with her lawyer.

“As arrested individuals, Campos and Enriquez have the right to be visited by their family, legal representative, health workers and human rights defenders,” Katribu stated.

They said that as long as Enriquez is not surfaced and Campos is denied visits from her family and chosen lawyer, their rights are being violated according to international humanitarian law agreements and local policies. The team also visited the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Caraga today, March 11, to report the condition of the victims.