Guv deplores use of lumads as NPA 'frontliners'

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 5): Guv deplores use of lumads as NPA 'frontliners'

South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes raised concern on Tuesday over the recruitment and use of lumads, especially members of the province's T'boli tribe, as "frontliners" of the New People's Army's (NPA) guerrilla fronts.

The governor said such situation was seen in the latest encounter between government troops and the NPA at Sitio Celtix, Barangay Ned in Lake Sebu town on Sunday afternoon that left six rebels and two Army soldiers dead.

She said the six fatalities on the rebel side were all T'bolis from the area who had been recruited as cadres by the NPA.

During the encounter, Fuentes said field commanders and other high-ranking officers of the NPA's Daguma Front 73 were able to escape from the area.

"The lumads were left to face our troops. So it was them (lumads) who got wounded and killed," she said in a radio interview.

Troops from the Army's 27th Infantry Battalion (IB) were conducting security operations at a portion of Barangay Ned when they clashed with the rebels led by Ka Yoyo Baraganza of the Platoon Arabo at past 1 p.m. Sunday.

The area is within the boundary of Lake Sebu and Bagumbayan town in Sultan Kudarat where the NPA's Front 73 was reportedly based.

Fuentes said the scene of the encounter was reportedly near the base camp of the Front 73 at a mountainous area in Bagumbayan.

She said troops from the 27IB and 33IB intensified their security operations in the area following the cancellation by President Rodrigo R. Duterte of the peace negotiations with the communist-led National Democratic Front.

As of Tuesday morning, the governor said the clearing operations in the area are still ongoing based on information relayed to her office.

Due to the encounter, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said around 20 tribal families with nearly 100 dependents have evacuated from the area.

Milagros Lorca, PDRRMO head, said the displaced residents are currently staying at evacuation centers in Sitios Panamin and Lubo in Barangay Ned.

She said they already sent initial relief assistance composed of food and non-food items to the affected residents in coordination with the municipal government of Lake Sebu.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1017953