PROTEST. Members of the Indigenous Peoples communities in Sultan Kudarat hold at a lightning rally Wednesday (Dec.26) in Koronadal City denouncing the communist New People’s Army for duping the IPs on their futile cause. (Photo courtesy of the Manobo Dulangan IPs)
PRESIDENT QUIRINO, Sultan Kudarat -- The military here lauded the lightning protests conducted by members of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) from Sultan Kudarat on Wednesday in Koronadal City, describing it as a form of democratic expression of grievances.
Lt. Colonel Harold Cabunoc, commander of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion, said the tribal leaders have spoken and they no longer support the communist New Peoples’ Army (NPA).
About 30 members of Manobo Dulangan tribespeople formed a line in front of the SOCCSKSARGEN regional center in Barangay Carpenter, Koronadal City between 9 to 10 a.m. chanting: “NPA mangingilad (NPA deceitful),” “NPA terorista (terrorist).”
The protesters were led by Bai Nenita Billones, an IP tribal leader and a certain “Ka Jason,” a Manobo and former NPA who recently surrendered to the government.
The IPs, their faces covered and holding placards, demanded the rebels to stop terrorizing IP communities in the mountains of Sultan Kudarat. Some of the protesters were former NPAs.
They also demanded the NPA to cease recruiting their relatives in the mountains, especially the minors.
The tribal leaders also condemn militant groups for using and manipulating the IPs in political rallies advancing the interest of communist rebels. “Many of us are used to rally against mining, against logging, against the government and we get nothing for doing so, we were just used,” the group’s speaker said during the rally using a megaphone.
They also denied claims by militant groups that a massacre took place in December 2017 between the group of Commander Datu Victor and elements of the Army’s 27th and 33rd Infantry Battalion.
The Commission on Human Rights in Region 12 found Cabunoc and Lt. Colonel Benjamin Leander, former 27th IB commander, liable for alleged human rights violations in South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat borders. “There was no massacre, it was a legitimate encounter and soldiers also helped the injured followers of Datu Victor after the fighting by bringing the injured rebels to the hospital,” the IPs said.
The group peacefully dismissed a few minutes later. An amateur video about the lighting protest was also posted on Facebook. “Clearly, the IPs speak, and they do not want the NPAs to continue recruiting their followers by providing false promises,” Cabunoc said.
“This is an indication that the IPs, who used to support them, now realize the rebels are indeed terrorists and will not help them out of poverty but use them to fight the government,” he added.
The Army official said a partnership between the Army and the local government units (LGUs) of President Quirino, Senator Ninoy Aquino, and Bagumbayan has helped the IPs realize that there is a government that cares for them.
“The Army, in coordination with the LGUs, has continuously been reaching out to far-flung villages where the Manobo Dulangan resides and extend them help and provide basic government services,” Cabunoc said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1057516
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