Lumad alternative schools recognized by DepEd –rights advocate

A people's rights advocate on Tuesday defended the Alternative Learning Center for Agriculture Livelihood Development (ALCADEV) system, after a school in Surigao del Sur teaching it was linked by the military to the communist movement.

In a phone interview on GMA News TV's "News To Go," Elaiza Pangilinan, secretary general of the group Karapatan, said ALCADEV is internationally recognized as an alternative learning system for indigenous youth in hard-to-reach communities.

"Itong ALCADEV ay recognized na nagbibigay ng alternatibong pag-aaral, mga lesson na suitable for the culture and tradition ng mga katutubo," Pangilinan said.

She added schools teaching ALCADEV, including the one in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, are recognized by the Department of Education (DepEd).

"Recognized naman ng DepEd at accredited ng Alternative Learning System etong ating mga eskwelahan na itinayo diyan sa Liuanga, Surigao de Sur," she said.

The school in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, hit national headlines recently after its school director, Emerico Samarte, was found dead on September 1, allegedly executed by a paramilitary group Mahagat-Bagani. Aside from him, two more community leaders were allegedly executed by the group.

Karapatan believes Mahagat-Bagani is supported by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), particularly by the Army's 75th and 36th Infantry Battalions.

"Ang residente, ang komunidad mismo ay nagsalita na even before 'yung nangyari, August 30 to 31, hanggang sa nangyari, na nandun ang presensiya ng 75th IB at saka 36 IB ng AFP," Pangilinan said.

The military had earlier said ALCADEV schools are being used by communist rebels to spread anti-government propaganda to the youth. It, however, denied connection with Mahagat-Bagani, saying the group is composed of Lumads or indigenous peoples.

Pangilinan said this is not impossible. "Laganap po dito ang pagre-recruit ng mga CAFGU, pagre-recruit ng mga paramilitar diyan sa mga komunidad ng Lumad para ilaban against dun sa Lumad," she said.

AFP spokesperson Col. Noel Detoyato had said in a previous report in News to Go that the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) is the only paramilitary group sanctioned by the military. —Jessica Bartolome/KBK, GMA News