ONE of the six progressive lawmakers, Bayan Muna Representative Eufemia Cullamat was dared today to denounce the killing of Lianga Indigenous People Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Jumar "Datu Nahikyad" Bucales on Sunday in Barangay Banahao, Lianga, Surigao del Sur.
IPMR of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, Datu Rico Maca, denounced the continued killings done by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) among the IPs in the area.
Maca even asked Cullamat to show her color being an IP leader before she was elected as a party-list representative on the continued killings done by the rebels’ atrocities in the province and to act on Bucales’ group killings that occurred in her town.
According to Maca, Bucales was a staunch advocate of IP rights and a vocal critic of Rep. Cullamat.
“The IPs of Surigao del Sur and their leaders are not intimidated by this killing, we will continue the fight against terrorism and the protection of our communities from the intimidations and harassments of the CNTs,” said Maca.
He said that the whole Manobo tribe in Surigao del Sur are deeply saddened by the loss of one of an "active and dynamic leader."
Fear, he said, will not "deter the resolve of IP leaders to continue to protect" their ancestral lands and communities from the intrusion of the NPA rebels.
He said that Bucales’ death will inspire the Manobo leaders and tribesmen to move forward to protect their communities and their children from the NPA.
Army’s 3rd Special Forces Battalion civil-military officer 1st Lieutenant Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan said Bucales, and his two other companions were killed in an ambush perpetrated by suspected NPA rebels at around 1:30 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 4) in Sitio Mamparasanon, Barangay Banahao, Lianga.
Punsalan said around 10 armed men believed to be NPA rebels belonging to the Guerrilla Front (GF) 19 headed by a certain “Tulong Wagnos” waylaid the group of Bucales.
“The killings were confirmed by the other companions of Bucales who were also wounded,” said Punsalan.
Punsalan said based on the initial investigation, Bucales and his group came from an IPMR meeting in Barangay San Isidro Sunday morning.
He said as an IPMR, Bucales sits as an ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Bayan, the local legislative body of Lianga.
He also noted the dedication of Bucales to provide the IP children with quality education through the establishment of IP schools duly accredited by the Department of Education (DepEd).
Last month, two government-accredited IP schools were formally handed over to the tribal communities in the towns of Lianga and Marihatag, according to Punsalan.
Punsalan said Cullamat was a sister of arrested Manobo leader Gloria Tomalon in barangay Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur, on charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention on March 19.
Tomalon is a prominent leader in the indigenous Manobo’s struggle as the founder of the organization KATRIBUMMU and a council member of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), according to Punsalan.
In an earlier statement, Cullamat said “The PNP and AFP chose to illegally arrest her sister as the country grapples against the horror of this COVID-19 pandemic. [They] should stop the attacks against national minorities and respect our right to self-determination instead.”
“It is with deep grief and sorrow to announce the untimely demise of Hon. Datu Jumar Bucales, IPMR of LGU Lianga,” said Mayor Novelita Sarmen in a statement issued Sunday evening.
She described Bucales’ killing as “brutal and a direct insult to democracy and to the most fragile peace and order we all hope to foster” in Lianga town.
Datu Jimmy Guinsod, the IPMR of the province of Surigao del Sur also denounced the killing of Bucales and accused the NPA rebels as responsible for such carnage.
“On behalf of the Tribal Leaders Conference of Surigao del Sur and as the provincial IPMR, I am strongly condemning the killing of Datu Jumar Bucales, the municipal IPMR of Lianga, Surigao del Sur perpetrated by the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines) NPA Terrorist (CNT),” Guinsod said in a statement Sunday evening in his Facebook account.
He also told the IPs in the province that Datu Bucales offered his life for the future of the tribal people of Lianga and worked hard to shed light on his tribesmen especially those who were influenced by the CPP-NPA.
The National Commission on Indigenous People in Caraga (NCIP-13) also denounced the killing Sunday, stating that the killing was perpetrated by the NPA rebels and took the life of an extremely active and revered tribal leader of Lianga, Surigao del Sur.
“We will not halt nor be weary. The fight has begun and we are here to carry on the battle, for a finer and better world, for the young and our future generation,” the agency said.
Meanwhile, Datu Constancio Duhac, the tribal chieftain of Lianga also vowed to continue the advocacies of Bucales, especially his efforts "to save the tribe from the NPA.”
“We are mourning right now and we condemn the killing of Datu Jumar. If the CNTs believe that we are cowed by their terroristic act, they are wrong. We will continue to fight for our rights,” Duhac said on Monday.
He added that Bucales’ death will inspire the Manobo leaders and tribesmen to move forward to protect their communities and their children from the NPA. (Ben Balce)
