Pasaka Lumad Confederation in Southern Mindanao Chairman Kerlan Fanagel (contributed photo)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A Lumad group here reacted to President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement on stepping-up the government’s counter-insurgency campaign, saying it will affect thousands of Lumad in Mindanao.
For PASAKA Confederation of Lumad Organizations, this is a declaration of “all-out war against Lumads, not rebels.”
Shortly after his arrival from India on January 27, Duterte said that he would destroy the NPA and go after its legal fronts.
“His pronouncement means is (sic) a go signal to continue military deployment and operations on the ground, and we Lumads and farmers are targets. Expect more Lumads to be displaced,” PASAKA chairperson Kerlan Fanagel said.
PASAKA is composed of 388 Lumad organizations in Southern Mindanao Region.
The group said that instead of delivering peace, the government additional troops in IP communities will raise Lumad’s ire on Duterte.
READ: More Army troops deployed to IP areas in Davao region
“We are raising legitimate concerns such as protection of our ancestral domain from mining and plantations, and our schools from militarization. And this is how Duterte answers our demands, by threatening us as communist sympathizers? Said Fanagel.
On January 28, Ricky Olado, a member of Tinananon Kulamanon Lumadnong Panaghiusa (TIKULPA), was shot dead in Arakan town, Cotabato, while Subanen leader Timuay Alberto Andes, chairperson of Slabukan Nok G’taw Subanen (SGS) was “illegally arrested” by paramilitary group in Sergio Osmeña, Zamboanga del Norte on January 14.
Fanagel warned that more Lumad communities might evacuate and seek refuge due to intensified military operations.
Since 2014, hundreds of Lumad from Davao del Norte and Bukidnon province sought refuge in UCCP Haran evacuation because of alleged harassments by the military and paramilitary groups.
PASAKA recorded 34 Lumad who were victims of politically motivated killings since 2016.
“It shows that this government is no different from the past governments who launch counter-insurgency programs that target Lumad and peasant communities and schools,” Fanagel said. (davaotoday.com)
