IPs want CNTs punished for killing IP leaders in SurSur

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 8, 2020): IPs want CNTs punished for killing IP leaders in SurSur (By Jennifer P. Gaitano)

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 8 (PIA) -- Following the killing of Datu Jomar Bucales, along with other Indigenous Peoples (IP) leaders in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, the IP communities called on the different concerned government agencies, media, and other sectors to help bring those responsible to justice.

Datu Jimmy Guinsod, provincial Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of Surigao del Sur has appealed to the national government for swift justice and wanted the communist terrorist group (CTG) in the province to be punished by law for their terroristic acts.

As he shared his sentiments, he also revealed that Datu Bucales has been an active leader in the promotion of peace and development in Lianga and has been supportive of the government's initiatives.

During a press briefing facilitated by the 401st Brigade, Philippine Army, Secretary Allen Capuyan of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) bared that the killing incident of Datu Bucales and other IP leaders is an expression of the Communist New People’s Army Terrorists (CNTs') exploitation and abuse to the ancestral domain of the IP communities. “Such terroristic act should not be tolerated,” he said.

“Government agencies, media, and other sectors should work together to help protect the rights and welfare of the Indigenous Peoples against the CNTs. The task force ELCAC (ending local communist armed conflict) is useless if these terroristic acts continue. We will file a murder case and violation of international humanitarian law against the culprits,” cited Capuyan.

Capuyan emphasized the grassroots slogan that "those who have less in life should have more in law." This, he said, reminding the government officials and stakeholders to revisit the Indigenous People's Rights Act (IPRA) in order to put all resources and developmental efforts in the proper perspective.

"IPRA is a law to correct historical injustice ngunit nasaan na ngayon ang totoong pagkalinga sa mamamayan? (but where now can we see the real concern of the people?)" he said, adding that the efforts should be grounded on protecting indigenous peoples’ customary laws, their self-determination, and territorial rights as recognized under contemporary international law.

Mayor Novelita Sarmen of Lianga also expressed her condemnation to the brutal killing of the NPAs to the IPs. “It is with deep grief and sorrow to announce the untimely demise of Datu Bucales. We condemn such a brutal killing as it is a direct insult to democracy and to the most fragile peace and order we all hope to foster in our municipality,” she said.

Meanwhile, LTC Joey Baybayan, commanding officer of 3rd Special Forces Battalion, called on the IP leaders to closely coordinate with them should they have relevant activities and events to attend to, so they could be assisted/escorted to ensure their protection from the NPAs and prevent such incident.

Baybayan also recalled and recognized the late Datu Bucales for his efforts and initiatives in realizing peace and development in the ancestral domain.

Amid the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Sec. Capuyan, along with other officials took time and visited the municipality of Lianga and initiated a plan of actions to ensure that responsible people for the killing incident will be put to jail and suffer the consequences. (JPG/VLG/PIA-Caraga)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1055385