Activist groups using lumads for propaganda, North Cotabato solon claims

A lawmaker on Monday accused activist groups of using members of the Ata-Manobos and Matigsalug tribes for propaganda and for insitigating them to be angry at the government at what was supposed to be a peaceful dialogue with lawmakers.

 

North Cotabato Rep. Nancy Catamco, chair of the House committee on indigenous peoples, said the groups— which she did not name— took advantage of the kindness extended by lumads temporarily staying inside the United Church of Christ Philippines (UCCP) Haran compound in Davao City by egging them on to hold a rally and “throw [invectives] against the government.”

 

She asked the House committees on human rights, and indigenous peoples to conduct an investigation on the incident.

 

The lumads fled their communities in Talaingod, Kapalong, Davao Del Norte, and from San Fernando, Bukidnon to the UCCP amid complaints about the alleged harassment by military and paramilitary units. 

 

On July 13, Catamco went with Reps. Luz Ilagan of Gabriela party-list, Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna party-list and Terry Ridon of Kabataan party-list to the UCCP compound as part of a fact-finding mission to investigate the alleged abuse against the lumads.

 

Catamco, however, said she was taken aback when the lumads staged a rally when she and her colleagues were inside the compound.

 

“The organizers of Haran never formalized these concerns in the matter expected of the situation. Instead, the lumads were made to carry placards and throw [invectives] at the government,” she said.

 

“To me, this is a clear case of propaganda, capitalizing on the trusting nature of the lumads and their lack of familiarity on the available remedies under our system of government. It is like pushing the lumads out of the frying pan into the fire,” Catamco added.

 

Addressing 'smelly' issue

 

Following the dialogue with lumads at the UCCP, the progressive Makabayan bloc released a statement assailing Catamco for bringing military personnel to the dialogue and allegedly disrespecting the IPs, at one time calling them “smelly.”

 

In her defense, Catamco showed a video in which she was heard expressing her disappointment at the decrepit living conditions that she said the lumads were made to endure inside the UCCP.

 

“Hindi kaya ng aking kalooban na makita ang mga bata sa lugar na ganito ang amoy,” she said in the video clip.

 

Catamco also showed another video clip which she said proved that the lumads were deceived to leave their ancestral communities.

 

The IP in the video clip was quoted as saying that they were supposedly coaxed to abandon their communities by persons who promised to they will meet President Benigno Aquino III, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao regarding their problems with the military.

 

After the video was played, Catamco said: “The heart-wrenching circumstances facing the Ata-Manobos and Matigsalugs in Haran is simply too much to bear. They were made prisoners despite their pleas to go home. They were utilized as protesters in Davao City.”

 

Owing to the poor living conditions inside the UCCP compound, Catamco  confirmed that she asked the lumads during the dialogue if they will be willing to go back to their ancestral communities.

 

“Bilang katutubo na inaruga at lumaki sa hanay ng mga nagdaop-palad kong mga kapatid, nangibabaw sa akin ang hangaring tuldukan na ang pagsasamantala ng mga taong ang tunay na layunin lamang ay hiyain ang pamahalaan at lasunin ang mga pag-iisip ng mga kapatid kong katutubo…,” she said. — JDS, GMA News