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| President Duterte handshakes with the Lumad leaders / photo file from PCOO |
Manila, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte just announced
that he will offer P20, 000 for the head of each member of the New People’s
Army (NPA) who continue to harass the Indigenous Peoples (IPs).
This was the response of the president when asked about the
killings and harassment to IP leaders who do not want to support the cause of
the NPA rebels.
He also revealed during the press conference night on Friday
at the Matina Enclaves in Davao City that he wants to train the IPs as Citizen
Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) to combat.
Training the IPs will enable them to fight the rebels should
they attack again.
“Go out and hunt those who killed your comrades,” President
Duterte said.
“I’ll put a reward to those lumads (IP) who will become
Cafgu, one NPA you will kill I’ll pay you. You want money, I give you money,
I’ll make P20,00 per head,” he said.
However, for the meantime, he told the Lumads to evacuate temporarily
to areas near military camps should these communist groups try to attack them.
Just last February 4, the Easter Mindanao Command has
reported the death of Datu Banadjao Mampaundag and his son Jhonard – who were
killed inside their home in Sitio Igang, Barangay Palma Gil located in the town
of Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
Reports said that the suspects attacked the house of the
victims using a vehicle to appear that they were soldiers, as they also tried
to ambush the ambulance responding to them.
The victim’s daughter said that her father had received several
death threats from the NPA for being an advocate of peace and supporting the
government projects to help the Lumads in terms of economic opportunities and
security.
Last February 8, the IPs meet and protested against the NPAs
to seek justice for the killings of their comrades.
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