AgSur tribal leaders sign manifesto to free tribal domains from NPA infestation

From the Philippine Information Agency (Sep 24): AgSur tribal leaders sign manifesto to free tribal domains from NPA infestation

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur – Some 60 tribal leaders all over the province of Agusan del Sur convened on Monday and issued a two-page manifesto to call on the New People’s Army (NPA) to leave their ancestral domain in the province.

In a consultation made in one of the resorts here, Datu Manggubat Marcus Gonzales, Provincial Tribal Chieftain reviewed and read one by one the provisions of the manifesto they have earlier prepared before the council in order to confirm their commitment to fight for their cause to drive away the NPA from their domains and prepare themselves to fight the NPA infiltration in their areas and stop any activities that the NPA plan to inflict.

“As we all hear from radio, television and other media outlet, the brutal killing in Diatagon, Lianga Surigao del Sur was all blamed to the baganis, the tribal warriors. Yes, the people they called baganis are tribal warriors as termed by the lumads ever since, but presently, there is no legal or listed bagani all over the country and we do not know if they are real baganis. Who knows? The order of the national government is to disarm the bagani, but who will they disarm?" said Mayor Dario Otaza of the municipality of Loreto, the father of the tribal leaders who liberate the municipality from the NPA's presence.

"The tribal warriors whom we, the tribal leaders who have recognized the bagani as defender and protector of our domain? How about the NPA? Why blame that terroristic deed to our protectors and defenders? Why not to the NPA?” Mayor Otaza told.

The manifesto, which will be submitted to the Department of the National Defense, the President of the Philippines and other government offices, will support the strengthening of the real bagani whom the tribal leaders recognized as protectors and defenders of their areas or territories from any harm and violators of their rights.

Other provisions of the manifesto include their readines to fight and eradicate the NPA in the province that spread fear and disrespect to human rights, be lumads and non-lumads; that all organization of the NPA in the province have no right to join in any organization or discussion by the tribal groups; to stop organizing or strengthening of their organizations in the province especially in the tribal communities and territories and condemn the activities of their fronts like the Karapatan, ALCADEV, Bayan Muna and other groups that teach the communist ways to children and local residents.

“In Agusan del Sur alone, more than 300 tribal leaders and lumads were killed by the NPAs, but until now, they are unknown. We have brought these incidents in the national level but to no avail. We wonder why the killing of the three victims in Surigao del Sur shocked the country and even the whole world and gain recognition," Datu Gonzales said.

"We can ask then, who are behind all these? Are our brothers and sisters who were killed by the NPAs not worthy of their lives? Or just because we have no propaganda arm to sensationalize their deeds and condemn them (NPAs)? As leaders, it is now time to be ready to dedicate our lives for our rights as lumads and die for our tribes,” he added.

According to Datu Gonzales and Mayor Otaza, they are preparing to conduct a tribal summit to be attended by all tribal leaders of Caraga Region and government officials on October. However, the exact date was not yet set.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1731442884687/agsur-tribal-leaders-sign-manifesto-to-free-tribal-domains-from-npa-infestation