From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 11, 2020): Slain Surigao Sur town IP leader laid to rest (By Alexander Lopez)
LAST MARCH FOR A FALLEN LEADER. More than a thousand members of the Manobo tribe and their leaders staged an indignation rally against the communist New People’s Army on Saturday (Oct. 9, 2020) as they carried the casket of Hawudon Jumar Bucales, the Indigenous People Mandatory Representative of Lianga town to his final resting place. Bucales and two of his companions were killed in an ambush staged by the NPA on Oct. 4 in Sitio Mamparasanon in Barangay Banahao. (Photo courtesy of 3SFBn)
More than a thousand residents, mostly belonging to the Manobo tribe, joined the march and indignation rally Saturday as the remains of the slain Hawudon Jumar Bucales, the Indigenous People Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of Lianga town in Surigao del Sur, was finally laid to rest.
The Manobo tribe, during the indignation rally, condemned the communist New People’s Army (NPA) for the killing of Bucales and the other IP leaders and members in the area whom they said were victims of the continuing terroristic acts of the rebels in different IP communities in the province.
“We lost a remarkable and excellent IP leader,” Datu Jimmy Guinsod, the IPMR of the province of Surigao del Sur, told Philippine News Agency Sunday.
Bucales and two of his companions were killed in an ambush staged by the NPA on Oct. 4 in Sitio Mamparasanon, Barangay Banahao, Lianga.
Guinsod said Bucales won the admiration of the other IP leaders and ordinary residents for the advocacies he lived, worked, and implemented to bring genuine peace and development in IP communities in Lianga and the rest of the province.
“He was a brave man. Despite the several attempts against his life, Datu Jumar continued to carry on with his advocacies towards the IP communities in their town,” he said.
Guinsod said the Manobo tribe in Surigao del Sur is celebrating the IP month this October with a heavy heart due to the loss of their leaders and members.
“For this month alone, at the start of the IP month, the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) killed four Manobo tribe members, to include Datu Jumar and his two companions and Pfc. Ariel Guinsod Maca, an IP soldier killed by the CTGs last Oct. 3 in Lanuza, Surigao del Sur,” he added.
The contributions of Bucales to Lianga were also recognized by the local government unit, Guinsod said adding the IP leader “served only for nine months as IPMR but was able to accomplish tangible peace and development programs for the tribe.”
Among his notable accomplishment was the facilitation of the establishment of an IP school that is accredited by the Department of Education (DepEd), electrification of sitios especially those in IP communities, the rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads, and various livelihood programs in the conflict-affected communities which are the gateways to the Andap Valley Range.
Andap Valley is the home of the Manobo tribe in Surigao del Sur.
Lianga town Mayor Novelita Sarmen said Bucales also proposed development plans in the hinterlands to boost the economy and the agri-tourism in the municipality.
Fighting terrorism
Bucales is also known for his resolve in protecting the IP communities in Lianga against terrorism and the continued intimidation and harassment of the NPA.
An IP leader who asked for anonymity for security reasons said the fallen IP leader was at the forefront of establishing a DepEd accredited IP school in Lianga to replace the Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS) and the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV) schools in the area.
“These TRIFPSS and ALCADEV are influenced by the CTGs and we do not want our children to be indoctrinated by the communist ideology,” he said.
He added IP leaders in Lianga and the entire province supported Bucales in his efforts to close down the two schools which they suspect of having links with the NPA.
“The schools are also supported by MAPASU, an IP organization influenced by the CTG. In fact, some of its leaders are noted supporters of the communist movement here in Lianga and in Surigao del Sur,” he said.
MAPASU stands for Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod.
He said the advocacy of Bucales was the main reason why he was ordered killed by the NPA.
“The NPA accused Bucales of attacking the ALCADEV and TRIFPSS and the killing of Emerito Samarca, an official of ALCADEV. These accusations by the NPA are baseless and false,” the IP leader said.
A certain Sandara Sidlakan, who identified herself as the spokesperson of the NPA in northeastern Mindanao, claimed responsibility for the killing of Bucales and also accused him of responsibility for the death of Samarca and working for the closure of IP schools.
“The MAPASU group, the NPA, and even Bayan Muna Rep. Eufemia Cullamat, are singing the same song. They all accuse Bucales of being responsible for the killing of Samarca and worked for the closure of TRIFPSS and ALCADEV,” the IP leader said.
Another IP leader, Datu Rico Maca, the IPMR of San Miguel town is asking why Rep. Cullamat is so silent amidst the IP killings in Surigao del Sur.
“Where is Bae Eufemia Cullamat? She belongs to the Manobo tribe as she is from Lianga, a native of Surigao del Sur,” Maca said on Sunday.
He said the IP leaders in Surigao del Sur will continue the fight of Bucales regardless of dangers posed by the NPA.
“Bucales was a target of the CTG. All of us, the tribal leaders who oppose their ideology and continue to condemn their harassment in our communities are also their targets,” Maca said.
Datu Constancio Duhac, the tribal chieftain of Lianga, also vowed to move on with the advocacies left by Bucales.
“The CTGs cannot stop us. Despite the threats, we will continue our fight against terrorism to protect our communities,” Duhac said.
He said Bucales is now regarded as a local hero among the IP communities in Lianga and his death has sparked enthusiasm among the local leaders to pursue what he started.
In a statement Sunday, Lt. Col. Joey Baybayan, the commander of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion (3SFBn) of the Army, expressed grief over the death of Bucales.
He said the Army will help the Philippine National Police and other concerned agencies in the area to bring to justice those responsible for the ambush-slaying of the IP leader.
Baybayan said the 3SFBn will continue to perform its mandate of securing the IP communities in Lianga from the threats of the NPA.
The Army units in Surigao del Sur rendered a hero’s burial for Bucales.
The NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118135
The Manobo tribe, during the indignation rally, condemned the communist New People’s Army (NPA) for the killing of Bucales and the other IP leaders and members in the area whom they said were victims of the continuing terroristic acts of the rebels in different IP communities in the province.
“We lost a remarkable and excellent IP leader,” Datu Jimmy Guinsod, the IPMR of the province of Surigao del Sur, told Philippine News Agency Sunday.
Bucales and two of his companions were killed in an ambush staged by the NPA on Oct. 4 in Sitio Mamparasanon, Barangay Banahao, Lianga.
Guinsod said Bucales won the admiration of the other IP leaders and ordinary residents for the advocacies he lived, worked, and implemented to bring genuine peace and development in IP communities in Lianga and the rest of the province.
“He was a brave man. Despite the several attempts against his life, Datu Jumar continued to carry on with his advocacies towards the IP communities in their town,” he said.
Guinsod said the Manobo tribe in Surigao del Sur is celebrating the IP month this October with a heavy heart due to the loss of their leaders and members.
“For this month alone, at the start of the IP month, the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) killed four Manobo tribe members, to include Datu Jumar and his two companions and Pfc. Ariel Guinsod Maca, an IP soldier killed by the CTGs last Oct. 3 in Lanuza, Surigao del Sur,” he added.
The contributions of Bucales to Lianga were also recognized by the local government unit, Guinsod said adding the IP leader “served only for nine months as IPMR but was able to accomplish tangible peace and development programs for the tribe.”
Among his notable accomplishment was the facilitation of the establishment of an IP school that is accredited by the Department of Education (DepEd), electrification of sitios especially those in IP communities, the rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads, and various livelihood programs in the conflict-affected communities which are the gateways to the Andap Valley Range.
Andap Valley is the home of the Manobo tribe in Surigao del Sur.
Lianga town Mayor Novelita Sarmen said Bucales also proposed development plans in the hinterlands to boost the economy and the agri-tourism in the municipality.
Fighting terrorism
Bucales is also known for his resolve in protecting the IP communities in Lianga against terrorism and the continued intimidation and harassment of the NPA.
An IP leader who asked for anonymity for security reasons said the fallen IP leader was at the forefront of establishing a DepEd accredited IP school in Lianga to replace the Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS) and the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV) schools in the area.
“These TRIFPSS and ALCADEV are influenced by the CTGs and we do not want our children to be indoctrinated by the communist ideology,” he said.
He added IP leaders in Lianga and the entire province supported Bucales in his efforts to close down the two schools which they suspect of having links with the NPA.
“The schools are also supported by MAPASU, an IP organization influenced by the CTG. In fact, some of its leaders are noted supporters of the communist movement here in Lianga and in Surigao del Sur,” he said.
MAPASU stands for Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod.
He said the advocacy of Bucales was the main reason why he was ordered killed by the NPA.
“The NPA accused Bucales of attacking the ALCADEV and TRIFPSS and the killing of Emerito Samarca, an official of ALCADEV. These accusations by the NPA are baseless and false,” the IP leader said.
A certain Sandara Sidlakan, who identified herself as the spokesperson of the NPA in northeastern Mindanao, claimed responsibility for the killing of Bucales and also accused him of responsibility for the death of Samarca and working for the closure of IP schools.
“The MAPASU group, the NPA, and even Bayan Muna Rep. Eufemia Cullamat, are singing the same song. They all accuse Bucales of being responsible for the killing of Samarca and worked for the closure of TRIFPSS and ALCADEV,” the IP leader said.
Another IP leader, Datu Rico Maca, the IPMR of San Miguel town is asking why Rep. Cullamat is so silent amidst the IP killings in Surigao del Sur.
“Where is Bae Eufemia Cullamat? She belongs to the Manobo tribe as she is from Lianga, a native of Surigao del Sur,” Maca said on Sunday.
He said the IP leaders in Surigao del Sur will continue the fight of Bucales regardless of dangers posed by the NPA.
“Bucales was a target of the CTG. All of us, the tribal leaders who oppose their ideology and continue to condemn their harassment in our communities are also their targets,” Maca said.
Datu Constancio Duhac, the tribal chieftain of Lianga, also vowed to move on with the advocacies left by Bucales.
“The CTGs cannot stop us. Despite the threats, we will continue our fight against terrorism to protect our communities,” Duhac said.
He said Bucales is now regarded as a local hero among the IP communities in Lianga and his death has sparked enthusiasm among the local leaders to pursue what he started.
In a statement Sunday, Lt. Col. Joey Baybayan, the commander of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion (3SFBn) of the Army, expressed grief over the death of Bucales.
He said the Army will help the Philippine National Police and other concerned agencies in the area to bring to justice those responsible for the ambush-slaying of the IP leader.
Baybayan said the 3SFBn will continue to perform its mandate of securing the IP communities in Lianga from the threats of the NPA.
The Army units in Surigao del Sur rendered a hero’s burial for Bucales.
The NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118135
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