MANOBO tribes in Surigao del Sur on Saturday held a candle-lighting rally as they condemned atrocities by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and its allies, military officials said Sunday.
Army's 4th Infantry Division public affairs chief Major Rodulfo Cordero said the tribes held a candle-lighting rally as they offered prayers for Indigenous People individuals recruited by the CPP-NPA and were killed in the process.
"Surigao tribes and their families were doing this as part of their continuous quest for justice," said Cordero.
Cordero said the Manobos also denounced the atrocities made by the communist rebels against the IPs not only in Surigao del Sur but the entire Northern Mindanao and the Caraga region.
Army's 3rd Special Forces Battalion, civil-military officer 1st Lieutenant Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan said the lighting of candles of the Manobo tribes also ended the October IP month and observed All Souls’ Day against NPA's barbaric killings of innocent IP leaders and members.
Punsalan said they offered prayers for the souls of individuals who were killed by communist terrorist groups that were held at barangay St. Christine, Lianga on October 3.
Punsalan said, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) reported about 12 IP leaders and members that were killed since March this year.
Punsalan said the latest is Lianga IP Mandatory Representative, Hawudon Jumar S. Bucales (Datu Nahikyad) and 2 others who were ambushed on October 4 on their way home after an IP Council meeting in Lianga.
Earlier, The tribal council of Lianga reported that the NPA in Surigao sent them death threats after they allowed the construction of the IP schools accredited by the department of Education.
Punsalan said the Deped IP Schools are to replace the NPA-linked schools of Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS) in the hinterlands of Lianga and Marihatag towns.
“Ang aming mga tribal leaders na walang ibang gusto kundi makapagbigay ng kalidad na edukasyon sa mga IP gaya ni Datu Jumar Bucales ay gusto nilang patayin," said Lianga Tribal Chieftain Datu Constancio Duhac.
Duhac said they are not afraid as they will continue the programs that were started by Datu Bucales for the Lianga tribe.
The tribal leaders even denied NPA KASALO CARAGA, a group revealed by tribes as an NPA Terrorist supporter, posted a fake news in their Facebook page accusing the military of abuses which was disproved by the tribal leaders outright.
“Ang totoong nagmimilitarisa sa tribo ay ang mga sinungaling at teroristang NPA na sapilitang nirerekrut ang kabataang tribo para maging NPA o milisya ng bayan hindi ang Army," said San Miguel IPMR Datu Rico Maca.
"Sila ang nagsisinungaling sapagkat ang gusto lamang nila ay paalisin ang Army na tumutulong sa amin sa pamamagitan ng Community Support Program (CSP),” said Maca.
The NPA rebels proudly owned the killings of Datu Bucales and other members, in the statements of a certain Sandara Sidlakan who claims to be the NPA spokesperson in CARAGA.
Duhac also added that the propaganda made by NPA supporters such as Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod (MAPASU), Kahugpungan ng Mag-uuma sa Surigao del Sur (KAMASS), KASALO CARAGA, Karapatan CARAGA, Save our Schools Network and others were all deceptive.
"Ang gingagawa ng mga terorista ay pananakot at pag-atake sa mga walang laban na IPna ayaw na sa kanila, “ Duhac added.
Communist NPA Terrorists and their front organizations are declared persona-non-grata in the whole province of Surigao del Sur to include all its municipalities, city, and barangays.
The declaration against them (NPA) were made by the Surigao Sur Provincial government, NCIP, local chief executives and sectoral groups have earlier declared statements of condemnations against the NPA.
The IPs supported the passage of Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and the National Task Force-Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). (Ben Balce)
