Posted to Kalinaw News (Aug 9, 2020): Liberation of Dumagats and Mangyans Highlights the International IP Day 2020
CAMP CAPINPIN, Tanay, Rizal – The liberation of 162 IP former rebels from the clutches of NPA terrorism since January 2020 highlights Southern Tagalog’s celebration of this year’s International Day of Indigenous People.
One hundred thirty two of these former rebels belong to the Dumagat Remontados of the Sierra Madre while the rest belong to the Mangyan tribe of Mindoro.
Major General Arnulfo Marcelo B Burgos Jr, Commander of the 2nd Infantry Division which covers Southern Tagalog, has earlier congratulated the former rebels for “choosing the path to peace and for turning their backs from the underground movement” while assuring them that “your government will always be here to assist you to attain the prosperous lives which every Filipino citizen deserves.”
Per the military’s records, majority of these IP former rebels have already received benefits under the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or E-CLIP which provides up to Php 700,000 worth of grants and reintegration packages for NPA terrorists who will decide to give up the armed struggle and rejoin mainstream society.
Maj Gen Burgos added that “our IP’s rights are being violated, their peace-loving nature exploited and they are being threatened and coerced to support the NPA terrorists” saying that “such is a deplorable practice within the terrorist organization that no words can ever justify.”
He emphasized that “this unprecedented withdrawal of support from the underground movement is a clear manifestation of our indigenous people’s empowerment to go against the NPA terrorists which will further contribute to the latter’s imminent defeat in our Area of Responsibility.”
Maj Gen Burgos ended his statement by calling upon the “few remaining NPA terrorists to cease IP exploitation and, instead, join the nation in taking the path towards the much coveted peace and development.”
The military reported that Mario Caraig alias Jethro, a top NPA Commander and IP recruiter, was killed during an encounter on Friday at Kalayaan, Laguna.
Alias Jethro is the second ranking NPA leader to be neutralised in Laguna in three days following the death of alias Termo after an encounter at Brgy San Antonio of Kalayaan town.
The Philippine Army’s 2ID said that “although we do not rejoice in killing our fellow Filipinos, the IP’s liberation from Jethro’s terroristic actions and cruelty is the best gift which RTF ELCAC can give to our Indigenous People as they commemorate their ‘internationally-recognized day’” which, incidentally, is being celebrated today, Aug 9.
[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]
https://www.kalinawnews.com/liberation-of-dumagats-and-mangyans-highlights-the-international-ip-day-2020/
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