The government’s absence in far-flung communities greatly contributed to the escalation of atrocities against the lumad, the Commission on Human Rights said.
“There is government neglect in the so-called lumad areas. The only government there is the local community structure wherein the Datus lead the community. But in terms of the basic social services, like education, health, and others, the government isn’t even present,” Human Rights Commissioner Roberto Eugenio Cadiz told The Standard in an exclusive interview.
Cadiz said that while alternative learning schools and civil society organizations address the government’s unfulfilled mandate of providing basic social services to the lumad, especially in terms of education, the conflict between the military and Communist rebels victimizes them.
“When groups immerse into these communities in a non-violent manner, offering education and teaching farming techniques… it’s not that they are siding with the New People’s Army. Who would refuse having an education, how to read and write? But that doesn’t mean that these people are pro-NPA,” Cadiz said.
“Then the military, who may or may not have any background or understanding of these areas, start accusing the people, which radicalizes the situation. Then the tension would escalate,” he explained.
Cadiz added that the clashing viewpoints of the AFP and the NPA is also evident on the issue of the military’s “Oplan Bayanihan.”
“From the point of view of the government, Oplan Bayanihan is really bringing government services to the IP communities. From the point of view of the NPA, it’s an anti-insurgency measure,” he said.
The CHR accused the National Commission on Indigenous People of failing to fulfill its mandate of safeguarding the welfare of tribal groups.
“What happens is that the people are running to the CHR. The NCIP is supposed to address these concerns,” he said.
Cadiz said that the CHR released a statement condemning attacks against lumads ahead of the issuance of a full report on the recent killings before the end of the month because of reports of escalating tensions between the NPA and the lumad Baghani (warrior) class in Agusan del Sur, which allegedly wants to avenge the death of Manobo leader and Loreto, Agusan Del Sur Mayor Dario Otaza.
Otaza, a former rebel leader, rejoined mainstream society and convinced other NPA rebels to leave the rebel movement.
In the statement, the CHR called on clashing groups to “refrain from exploiting lumad for their partisan political agenda.”
Meanwhile, independent presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe also attributed the extreme poverty and vulnerability of the lumad to the neglect of the Aquino government.
“That lumad are being [forced into] being militiamen or combatants reflects on the poor state of our native brothers and sisters, who are otherwise known for [living] peaceful and simple lives,” Poe lamented.
She expressed dismay that lumad were being recruited for combat operations by both the military and Communist insurgents.
Poe made these remarks after the CHR issued a statement chiding both the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the NPA for recruiting lumad for combat operations.