In a protest action in front of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples in Davao City on Tuesday, August 23, Jong Monzon, secretary general of Pasaka Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao says the commission "tolerated" the formation of paramilitary groups who they say are committing human rights violations. (Paulo C. Rizal/davaotoday.com)
As the formal talks between the government and the National Democratic Front continue on its second day on Tuesday, August 23 members of the PASAKA Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao called for the abolition of the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) because of the agency's inaction to address extrajudicial killings and displacement of Lumad due to militarization.