Lumads joining NPA rise; alarms SoCot execs

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 28): Lumads joining NPA rise; alarms SoCot execs

South Cotabato officials have raised alarm over the rising number of indigenous peoples (IPs) in the province who have been “duped” into joining the New People’s Army (NPA).

South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes said Thursday an assessment made by the Provincial Peace and Coordinating Council (PPOC) showed that majority of the members of NPA units currently operating in parts of the province are composed of IPs or lumads.

In some areas, she said only the field commanders or leaders of NPA operating units are non-IPs.

“Nine of every 10 (NPA) cadres in South Cotabato are reportedly lumads and that is a sad situation,” Fuentes said.

The governor said such assessment was backed by reports from concerned stakeholders and security personnel.

The province’s main tribal groups are the B’laans and T’bolis, who are mostly settled in remote upland villages.

Lt. Col. Benjamin Leander, commander of the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion, confirmed that the NPA’s recruitment activities among the IPs in the area have intensified these past months.

He said they monitored the recruitment activities, which carried out by members of the NPA’s Front 73, in parts of Banga, T’boli and Lake Sebu towns.

The official said some of the recruits were minors who were promised of salaries reaching P5,000 a month and other support for their families.

“These were never realized and remained promises so some of them eventually decided to surrender,” he said.

Owing to this, Fuentes said there is need for the local government to step up its engagements with the IP communities, especially those in remote areas.

"This is a challenge for to focus our services and programs on the IPs and our Muslim communities," she said.

She said efforts are underway to expand the local government’s convergence outreach activities to more IP communities.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1011069