From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 22): IP group seeks justice for violent dispersal
Leaders of an indigenous people’s (IP) coalition sought President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s help after a violent dispersal of militants at the US Embassy.
In a visit at Malacanang Friday, Sandugo leaders presented a letter for President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who is still on a state visit in Beijing, China.
The group was met by Presidential Communications Office (PCO) officials led by Undersecretary for Administration and Finance Noel Puyat, Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Enrique Tandan III, Assistant Secretary for Operations and Special Concerns Marie Banaag and Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Kissinger Reyes.
Assisted by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes, Jr, Sandugo leaders urged the President to order a thorough investigation of the violent dispersal of protesting IPs who were reportedly just supporting President Duterte’s assertion of Filipino sovereignty and independence from the United States.
Sandugo called for justice for all Moro and IPs, whose human rights have been violated and their lands illegally taken away through deception of unscrupulous individuals.
The group also called for the abolition of agreements signed with the United States that allow militarization of Moros and IP communities, and the exploitation of their resources.
Sandugo leaders, who also asserted the right to decide for themselves, expressed their support for a foreign-independent policy that s more democratic and best suited for the development of not only the IPs but also for all Filipinos.
Puyat and Banaag assured the group that their request will be forwarded to President Duterte as soon as he gets back from his official visit to China.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=933629
Sandugo: Kilusan ng Moro at Katutubong Mamamayan para sa Sariling Pagpapasya” (Alliance of Moro and Indigenous Peoples for Self Determination) is a national alliance of lumad and indigenous people from all over the Philippines.
ReplyDeleteThe term "Sandugo" Sandugo is the Filipino word for blood compact which symbolizes the unity of the various ethnolinguistic groups.
The organization was formed on October 14, 2016 during a meeting at the University of the Philippines Diliman and purports to represent some "3,000 Lumad and Moro groups from all over the country."
However, the core groups behind the formation of Sandugo are known Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) front organizations and include the Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KATRIBU-Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines}, Suara Bangsamoro (Voice of the Moro People), the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) , and the Kusog sa Katawhang Lumad sa Mindanao (KALUMUARAN-Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of Mindanao).
[Note: KATRIBU referenced above was previously known as KAMP. The name was changed at the 4th National Congress of KAMP held in March 2015]