‘NPA Created the Conflict in Lumad Tribes’—Office of the Army Chief

From the Philippine Information Agency (Sep 29): ‘NPA Created the Conflict in Lumad Tribes’—Office of the Army Chief 

The New People’s Army deliberately destroyed the Lumad Tribes, it’s structure, culture, and tradition, when they deceitfully created the Rebolusyonaryong Kalihukang Lumad (Revolutionary Indigenous People Movement) among tribal communities and lured some IPs to join the Pulang Bagani (NPA IP Warriors) that eventually sparked the conflict within the Tribe (Pulang Bagani vs Traditional Bagani), according to a statement from the Office of the Army Chief.

Mr Julieto Canoy, a former NPA Guerilla Front and Finance Secretary in Agusan del Sur and has been with the Revolutionary Movement for 30 long years, is now fighting the wrong idealism of his former comrades. He said, “Kinahanglan ma kontrol sa komunista ang mga lumad kay naa sa ilang lugar ang dagkong material og pinansyal na makatabang sa pagpaasdang sa nasudnong demokratikong rebolusyon. Aron mag malampuson ang komunista, ilang ipamobilisa og gamiton ang mga Lumad aron paspas ang paglalom sa krisis sa ekonomiya, ipagawas nga inutil ang kasamtangang Goberno og kinahanglan ng mapulihan sa rebolusyonaryong kalihukan. Busa usa sa mga lakang ang pag mugna sa Rebolusyonaryong Kalihukang Lumad.” (The communists should control the Lumads because the resources that will improve their democratic revolution are in these territories. In order for the communists to be successful, they will mobilize the Lumads to create conditions for economic crisis, show that the Government is “Inutile” and it’s time to change the Government to a revolutionary government. That is why one of their steps is to organize and mobilize a Revolutionary Indigenous People Movement.)

In order for the NPAs to achieve this concept, they started with a negotiation with the IPs in 1994 at Lianga Bay, Surigao del Sur. Tribal leaders (Datus) were called by the NPA leaders namely: Ka Isko, Father Frank Navarro and Ka Maria Malaya aimed to discuss “Lumpong” or “Magdeal-lay Agreement”. This agreement was between the Tribal Leaders and the NPA leaders which gave Lumad Leaders (Datu) the authority to negotiate with the investors and contractors of any businesses within IP domain.

However, in 2004, NPAs scrapped this arrangement and created another which they called “Malanday Agreement”. This time, NPA Leaders have taken the full participation in all business transactions. All Tribal Leaders including their members who opposed this agreement have been killed or were harassed/attacked by the NPAs. Because of fear and/or deceit, some of the IP members joined the Pulang Bagani Command which the NPAs can control and mobilize.

Records show that in 1998 to 2008, a total of 357 Indigenous Peoples were brutally killed by the NPAs which led to the Lumads to stand and fight for their life and preserve their culture and tradition. As a result, in Caraga alone, records show that from 2010 to 2015, a total of 18 Pulang Bagani and 13 NPAs have been killed by the Traditional Bagani (IP Warriors).

The most brutal fight between the two warring IP groups happened in July 15, 2014, when the NPAs attacked Datu Calpito Egua at Brgy St Irene, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur. 12 NPAs died while two (2) Traditional Bagani were killed and one (1) wounded. This prompted the Traditional Bagani last October 8, 2014 to go on “MAGAHAT” a tribal term which means “To attack or act violently against…” the NPAs.

Last May 10, 2015, this traditional Bagani, who went on “Magahat” from Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur, openly declared a war against the NPAs through local radio interviews in Caraga region. This gave everyone, the LGU, PNP, AFP, Church, and other sector of society the knowledge about the on-going conflict within the tribes.

On September 1, 2015, one of this traditional Bagani group killed three persons in Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur.

“This is a clear evidence that our IP communities especially in CARAGA have been destroyed by the NPAs. This is the reason why your Army is present in the area. Our presence there is not militarization, but a peacekeeping mission. We enter IP communities because we don’t want violence to reign among the Lumads.” Said by MGen Oscar T Lactao, Commander of 4th Infantry Division.

In response to this, the Regional Peace and Order Council of Region 13 led by Hon Ferdinand Amante Jr., Mayor of Butuan City, convened the executive committee meeting last September 22, 2015 to discuss ways and means to solve the said conflict.

The council agreed upon that in order to solve the problem is to reunite first the IPs through the conduct of “Kahimunan” (Tribal Assembly) and eventually a “Tampudah” (Tribal Peace Pact) for the two warring IP group.

Mayor Amante said, “We need to bring back the integrity of our IP communities and free them from Insurgency manipulation in order for our IPs to preserve their ancestral domains, culture and tradition. We shall also focus on addressing the issues that are happening in the area. We need to deliver the programs that will improve their living conditions in order for this conflict to be fully addressed. We shall work together as one the Bayanihan way.”

Last September 21 and 23, 2015, two separate Indigenous Peoples assembly was conducted by Tribal Leaders in Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur. They signed a manifesto stating therein to free tribal domains from NPA intrusions. Tribal Leaders said, “They have no right to exist in our tribal areas and have no right to intervene in tribal matters. We seek for peace to prosper in our community that will eventually lead to our own development.” (Office of the Army Chief Public Affairs)

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/3001443357082/-npa-created-the-conflict-in-lumad-tribes-office-of-the-army-chief-