Army recruits Lumads as part of gov't equal opportunity efforts

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 3): Army recruits Lumads as part of gov't equal opportunity efforts

The Philippine Army (PA) on Tuesday announced its decision to recruit Lumads into its rank as part of the government's equal opportunity program.

"The PA is recruiting Lumads to be soldiers as part of the equal opportunity given to them by the government. In fact, at least five percent of our current soldiers’ recruitment in Eastern Mindanao are Lumads," Army spokesperson Col. Benjamin Hao said.

This is unlike the force recruitment of the NPAs, he added.

"The recruitment of the PA is based on the clamor of the local Lumad leaders. The PA support the premise of “who else can serve and secure them better than the Lumads themselves," Hao pointed out.

Based on the current strength of the PA today of 85,000, there are 200 indigenous people -- 78 officers and 122 enlisted personnel.

It was also important to note here that there were also some Lumads who voluntarily joined the militia service to secure their respective communities.

"And on the statement that the Armed Forces of the Philippines as human rights violators and doing extra judicial killings, the PA have been very transparent on the issue. We have already answered openly all the accusations against us in all formal investigations conducted by recognized legal bodies of the government and even by some key stakeholders in good governance," he said.

"We have provided the Commission on Human Rights all legal documents needed to express our strict adherence on human rights, international humanitarian law, and the rule of law," Hao said.

What is clear to the PA is the number of admission of the NPAs on killing civilians and soldiers inhumanely, he added.

"It is also clear to us that they are recruiting Lumad minors. Most importantly, it is clear to us the purging that the NPAs did to their comrades in arms that are still happening even now. The killing of the Mayor of Loreto and his son is a clear manifestation of this point," Hao said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=822853