MisOr gov to military: Stop tagging tribal community as NPA 'coddlers'

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 3): MisOr gov to military: Stop tagging tribal community as NPA 'coddlers'

The military should stop tagging tribal members of Mincamansi, a hinterland village in the town of Sugbongcogon in Misamis Oriental, as alleged protectors of the communist New People’s Army (NPA), Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano said Monday.

The governor said the military issued the suspicion following offensive operations against the communist rebels in the village.

The military offensive forced 188 indigenous peoples (IP) or lumads to settle at the provincial capitol compound since last week.

Emano said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should help the IP people instead of instilling fear among them and accusing them as “protectors” of the communist rebels.

“These (IP) belonged to the poorest of the poor in the province of Misamis Oriental who have been victims of various abuses and it is the duty of the government to assist and provide them with basic government services,” Emano said.

Emano said the provincial social welfare office has extended food assistance to the evacuees, while the provincial health office has continued to provide medical services to them, particularly the children.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=977139