No ‘Bagani’ forces in our midst – Army, NCIP

From the Manila Bulletin (Nov 10): No ‘Bagani’ forces in our midst – Army, NCIP

The Philippine Army’s Fourth Infantry Division (4th ID) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples in Region 10 (NCIP-10) recently issued a joint press statement, denying both agencies’ hand in the reported presence of the “Philippine Bagani Force Tribal Army.”

NCIP-10 Regional Director Robert Almonte and LTC. Romualdo Raymund Landingin of the Civil Military Operations (G7) of the (4th ID) signed the statement, saying that both the 4th Infantry Division and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples in Region 10 “do not have any knowledge of the existence of the Philippine Bagani Force Tribal Army.”

“Hence, if there are people who claim to be (with) such group, they don’t have our authority of mandate,” the statement says.

The same statement said the public must be informed that it is unlawful for any person who is not a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to wear AFP ranks and uniforms based on Republic Act 3815 or the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, as amended.

It also said that Bagani must be treated within the context of customary laws of some indigenous peoples/indigenous cultural communities in Mindanao. It did not specify which IP customary laws.

The two officials say that the 4th ID and NCIP, in coordination with other stakeholders, are continuously working on programs for thebetterment of the IPs.

The Philippine Bagani Force Tribal Army has reportedly been waging strategic warfare against the New Peoples’ Army, giving rise to suspicion that it was being supported by the military and the government.

Last week, three lumads, who were on their way to attend a wedding celebration in Kitaotao, were reportedly abducted by members of the New Peoples Army. Two of them were immediately released.

http://www.mb.com.ph/no-bagani-forces-in-our-midst-army-ncip/