Posted to the Eastern Mindanao Command (EASTMINCOM) Facebook Page (Mar 4, 2022): Official Statement//Mandaya-Mansaka Tribal Executive Council of Elders on the New Bataan 5 Incident
National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict OFFICIAL STATEMENT
MANDAYA-MANSAKA TRIBAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF ELDERS
ON NEW BATAAN 5 INCIDENT
The Mandaya-Mansaka Tribal Executive Council of Elders (MMTECE) -- the highest governing body of the ICCs/IPs of New Bataan headed by Datu Daniel L. Pagantupan, his legislative office counterpart, Municipal IPMR, Hon. Arnel B. Sugnoan and its development arm in the management of Mandaya-Mansaka Ancestral Domain, Ancestral Domain Management Office (ADMO) headed by Datu Jake Hanggam jointly denounce and belies the statements made by Save Our School Network (SOS) and other CPP-NPA-NDF mass-based organizations condemning the death of Chad Booc and four others whom they called “Lumad Volunteer Teacher and Community Health Worker” during the legitimate encounter with the government forces in Purok 8, Sitio Libuton, Andap, New Bataan, Davao de Oro last February 24, 2022.
May we emphasize the following ground for our dismissal of such irresponsible and fallacious statements made by SOS network, bias media outlets, and other CNN sympathizers;
1. Lumad Reference: The Mandaya-Mansaka tribe of New Bataan deems it atrocious to call us “Lumads” as this has been used by CPP-NPA-NDF to associate us with their aspirations which are not consistent with our beliefs, culture and practices. The term “Lumad” is no longer used to refer to our ethnolinguistic group. The use of this term is a violation of the NCIP Resolution No. 08-009-2021.
2. Alleged Massacre: if these are truly civilians and no NPA combatants, then there should have been no firefight and firearms recovered during the encounter. On the allegation that our IP residents said that no encounter happened and the incident is a massacre, we are more than willing to refute such claim with witnesses to prove that the AFPs operation is legitimate and is only aimed at protecting and securing our community.
3. Chad Booc’s Activity within AD: on the statement that they were only conducting research in the area, then show to the ICCs/IPs the proof of research work and answer us why did these people conduct such activities within our Ancestral Domain without securing Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) and coordination with the Tribal Office so that we can formally file a legal actions against the institution responsible for the illegal activity.
We, as prime movers in the protection and management of our Ancestral Domain has always been consistent with our position and strong commitment to maintaining peace and development within our communities with the use of our traditional conflict resolution and customary law. We have always been supportive of National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) since the day of its implementation. Our Support includes the closure of Salugpungan Schools and declaring CPP-NPA-NDF “Persona-Non-Grata” within our Ancestral Domain together with the government and private partners, the Provincial, Municipal, and Barangay Local Government Units, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
These partnerships and moves have resulted to significant projects and developments within the Ancestral Domain which directly benefited the ICCs/IPS especially those communities considered Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA). The ICCs/IPs do not welcome any intrusion within the Ancestral Domain without prior consultation with the concerned IP Leaders specially the MMTECE leadership. Hence, the illegal incursion and disturbance of peace and security in the IP community in Brgy. Andap is deemed appalling and a grave violation of our human right to peaceful living.
While we are saddened for the unnecessary loss of a very precious life as that of Chad Booc’s and colleagues, we believe that such incident calls for our young generation to think rationally and contemplate before joining the impractical arm struggle and obsolete ideologies. We also call on the Mass-based organizations of the CPP-NPA-NDF to stop sensationalizing the incident and capitalizing on our young people’s vulnerabilities to advance your decades-long commitment to violence and insurgency. The ICCs/IPs of New Bataan are not ignorant of your false narratives of the incident.
Towards this end, may we extend our sincerest commendation to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 1001st Brigade and 66th Infantry Battalion for quickly responding and neutralizing the intruders and for continually providing security to our Ancestral Domain and ICCs/IPs. May we also thank the Provincial Government of Davao de Oro headed by Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy, SBM Arturo T. Uy, Cong. Maricar Zamora, Mayor Geraldford N. Balbin and municipal officials for attending to the needs and for providing assistance to our disturbed IP Community in Sitio Libuton during and after the bloody encounter. The ICCs/IPs of New Bataan will be forever grateful to your timely responses in times of unexpected crises.
https://www.facebook.com/eastmincomafp
