Tribal leader lambasted CPP-NPA, calls for support from Pinoys abroad: 'I won’t risk my life for lies'

Tribal leaders from Mindanao share their ordeals under CPP-NPA in a forum in Paris France on Sept. 30, 2019 / photo from PNA News

An indigenous peoples (IP) leader from Mindanao calls for support from from Filipinos in France to raise awareness on the atrocities committed by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA).

"Hindi ko ipapahamak sarili ko kung 'di totoo ang sinasabi ko.Hindi lang kami tumatayo sa tribo namin, para rin sa ating bayan. 'Yung pamilya niyo sa Pilipinas sana sabihan niyo." said Bae Magdalina Iligan, of the Mamanwa Manobo Tribe



Iligan recounted her ordeal under the rebel group during an engagement with members of the Filipino community in Paris, France on Sept. 30.

Iligan said she witnessed how CPP-NPA executed some members of her family as she recalled how her father, since she was young, told her to stay silent.

"Ganyan sila kaberdugo, kahit kamag-anak mo pa. 'Pag sinabi nilang may kasalanan sa kanila, ipapaptay" she said

For Iligan, her utmost wish is to take back what's truly theirs -- their beautiful culture and ancestral domain.


"Ang gusto lang namin ay ipreserba ang maganda naming kultura, pero paano kung pinaptay na po kami ng CPP-NPA, na hanggang ngayon nandiyan pa rin sa amin." she said

Bae Chiary Balinan, another tribal leader, also shared her struggles in the hands of the CPP-NPA and appealed to international community to support their fight against the rebels in the Philippies.

"Sana po suportahan niyo kami, hindi po kami pumunta para manghingi ng pera dito. Alam niyo po ang hirap pumunta dito, maraming adjustment dahil hindi naman puwedeng ang Amerikano bisayain mo. Sobrang hirap po pero tiniis namin dahil ang pinangarap lang po namin ay ang kapayapaan po ng aming community." Balinan said



Balinan also defended President Rodrigo Duterte against his critics.

"'Pag nagpupunta sa ibang lugar, ang sinasabi sa Pilipinas ay mammatay-tao si Duterte, pero kami kaya kami naglakas-loob na pumunta dito dahil naramdaman namin na minahal kami ng presidente na 'yan, kasi taga-Davao kami" the tribal leader said

Meanwhile, for Datu Nestor Apas of the Langilan Manobo Tribe of Davao Del Norte, he sees the efforts of the President because of the development projects in their community, which also inspire them.

"Nainspire kami sa presidente pati sa community namin. Yong nakatanggap, nahiya na ngayon lang kami nakatanggap ng ganitong proyekto. Ito lang ang pag-asa para makatanim kami" he said



Source: PNA