AFP chief insists Lumad schools used as NPA breeding ground

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 3): AFP chief insists Lumad schools used as NPA breeding ground



Outgoing Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff, Gen. Carlito Galvez said the Salugpungan Community Learning Center and ALCADEV Lumad School are being used as breeding grounds of the New People's Army (NPA).

This was emphasized by the military chief in an interview with reporters shortly after flag-raising ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Monday.

"Ang nakikita natin (sa) (What we see in) Talaingod (Davao del Norte), yung (the) Salugpungan, at saka (and) ALCADEV, ginagamit talaga yan (are being used). The people must know that the Salugpungan at saka yung (and the) ALCADEV is a breeding ground for NPA, yung ginagawa nila (former Bayan Muna Representative) Satur Ocampo na dinadala dito sa (What they do is that they bring them here in) Manila. This is an exposure. 'Yung lima na nag-surrender dito sa north na galing dun sa ALCADEV at saka galing din dun sa areas ng mga (The five who surrendered in the north who came from ALCADEV and those who came from the areas of the) IPs (Indigenous People). Ito yung talagang nagpapatunay na talagang itong si (This really proves that) (ACT-Teacher Partylist Representatives France) Castro at saka itong si (and) Satur Ocampo, they are active members of the (Communist Party of the Philippines) CPP-NPA," he added.

Galvez also said this claim is already attested by Lumad leaders.

"So ngayon, nakikita natin ang last bastion na lang ng CPP-NPA is yung IPs kasi yung mga Indigenous People ito na lang ang pinaka-vulnerable sector na kaya nilang lokohin (Now, we see that the last bastion of the CPP-NPA is the IPs because the Indigenous People are the most vulnerable sector whom they can deceive)," he added.

Ocampo, Castro and several others were accused of violating Republic Act 10364 or The Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 and Article 270 of the Revised Penal Code which defines and provides penalty on the offense of kidnapping and failure to return a minor.

Ocampo and Castro claimed they are part of a humanitarian mission in Talaingod, Davao del Norte due to reports that students of these Lumad schools were fleeing the area following their closure.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1055549