Fearing an escalation of violence among warring lumad tribes in Surigao del Sur and its nearby provinces following the abduction and killing of Loreto Mayor Dario Otaza and his son Daryl, a Visayan lawmaker on Wednesday called on the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to step up peacekeeping operations in and around lumad communities.
Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Trenas said that it is very likely that lumads who are loyal to Otaza and his extended clan might launch retaliatory attacks on lumad members who are known sympathizers and members of the New People’s Army which is being blamed in the abduction and killing of the Otazas.
This developed as the government’s chief peace negotiator saw an opening for resumption of talks with the communist rebels who the Palace and the military blamed for the killing of the Otazas.
Alexander Padilla condemned the twin killings and stressed that this would be another game changer in the peace process involving the CPP-NPA-NDF. “Government continues to work on this issue but any violence on the ground makes the peace process more difficult than it is now.”
Trenas, for his part, expressed fears of tribal war among the lumad groups. “I’m afraid that the death of Mayor Otaza could trigger a new wave of violence among the Lumad. It’s just unfortunate that this atrocious attack against him and his son happened just as the AFP, the PNP and the Surigao provincial government are pursuing mediation efforts among warring lumad factions,” Trenas said.
Trenas lamented that lumad communities in Surigao del Sur and its nearby provinces have been torn into various factions because of persistent attempts by the NPA to assert control over their ancestral territories prompting certain tribes to form their own private armed groups, also known as Bagani.
“There are now a pro-NPA and anti-NPA lumad factions and Mayor Otaza was attacked because of his strong stand against the communist insurgents. lumad factions that are said to have connections with NPAs on the other hand are blaming anti- NPA lumads for the attacks on some of their leaders. This is a cycle that must be stopped,” Trenas said.
Trenas said that the PNP and the AFP should intensify operations to neutralize the people responsible for the death of Otaza and his son while ensuring that no lumad groups supporting Otaza will carry out revenge killings.
Otaza, a Manobo lumad, and son were abducted and killed by people who posed as agents of the National Bureau of Investigation but government officials and the military put the blame on the NPA. With F. Solmerin