Why would a wealthy country that is 9,977 kilometers away interested in finding peace for a poor country like the Philippines?
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Regina “Gina” Lopez visited today the wake of Jimmy Saipan, a farmer and anti-mining activist, who was gunned down by unknown assailants last Oct. 10 at Barangay New Visayas in Montevista town, Compostela Valley.
Leaders and representatives of 3,000 Lumad and Moro groups from all over the country formed a national alliance called "Sandugo: Kilusan ng Moro at Katutubong Mamamayan para sa Sariling Pagpapasya" (Alliance of Moro and Indigenous Peoples for Self Determination) at the GT-Toyota Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman last Saturday.
The 3,000 strong Lumad and Moro leaders alliance called Sandugo demanded for the abolition of the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples for its failure to address the issues of the national minorities.
A group that opposed the burial of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery) lauded Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s position that it would “respect the Supreme Court’s decision.”