IPs want CNTs punished for killing IP leaders in SurSur
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 8 (PIA) -- Following the killing of Datu Jomar
Bucales, along with other Indigenous Peoples (IP) leaders in Lianga, Surigao
del Sur, the IP communities called on the different concerned government
agencies, media, and other sectors to help bring those responsible to
justice.
Datu Jimmy Guinsod, provincial Indigenous Peoples Mandatory
Representative (IPMR) of Surigao del Sur has appealed to the national
government for swift justice and wanted the communist terrorist group (CTG) in
the province to be punished by law for their terroristic acts.
As he shared his sentiments, he also revealed that Datu Bucales has been
an active leader in the promotion of peace and development in Lianga and has
been supportive of the government's initiatives.
During a press briefing facilitated by the 401st Brigade,
Philippine Army, Secretary Allen Capuyan of the National Commission on
Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) bared that the killing incident of Datu Bucales and
other IP leaders is an expression of the Communist New People’s Army Terrorists
(CNTs') exploitation and abuse to the ancestral domain of the IP communities.
“Such terroristic act should not be tolerated,” he said.
“Government agencies, media, and other sectors should work together to
help protect the rights and welfare of the Indigenous Peoples against the CNTs.
The task force ELCAC (ending local communist armed conflict) is useless if
these terroristic acts continue. We will file a murder case and violation of
international humanitarian law against the culprits,” cited Capuyan.
Capuyan emphasized the grassroots slogan that "those who have less
in life should have more in law." This, he said, reminding the government
officials and stakeholders to revisit the Indigenous People's Rights Act (IPRA)
in order to put all resources and developmental efforts in the proper
perspective.
"IPRA is a law to correct historical injustice ngunit nasaan na
ngayon ang totoong pagkalinga sa mamamayan? (but where now can we see the real
concern of the people?)" he said, adding that the efforts should be
grounded on protecting indigenous peoples’ customary laws, their
self-determination, and territorial rights as recognized under contemporary
international law.
Mayor Novelita Sarmen of Lianga also expressed her condemnation to the
brutal killing of the NPAs to the IPs. “It is with deep grief and sorrow to
announce the untimely demise of Datu Bucales. We condemn such a brutal killing
as it is a direct insult to democracy and to the most fragile peace and order
we all hope to foster in our municipality,” she said.
Meanwhile, LTC Joey Baybayan, commanding officer of 3rd Special
Forces Battalion, called on the IP leaders to closely coordinate with them
should they have relevant activities and events to attend to, so they could be
assisted/escorted to ensure their protection from the NPAs and prevent such
incident.
Baybayan also recalled and recognized the late Datu Bucales for his
efforts and initiatives in realizing peace and development in the ancestral
domain.
Amid the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Sec. Capuyan,
along with other officials took time and visited the municipality of Lianga and
initiated a plan of actions to ensure that responsible people for the killing
incident will be put to jail and suffer the consequences. (JPG/VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Jabonga residents
undergo skills training on organic veggie production
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 8 -- After the successful conduct of training on
organic vegetable production in the municipality of RTR in Agusan del Norte,
residents of Brgy. Bangonay in Jabonga, Agusan del Norte were also given the
same training held recently.
According to Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA)-Agusan del Norte Provincial Director Rey M. Cueva, this is still in
line with one of the mandates of TESDA particularly on organic agriculture
production.
Like the training conducted in RTR, the primary aim of the training is
to provide food security to households which is also in line with the
directives of TESDA Sec. Isidro S. LapeΓ±a.
Dir. Cueva added residents of Brgy. Bangonay will also learn how to
produce organic vegetable by means of backyard gardening. “This is the same
with the residents in Brgy. Tagbongabong… They will learn how to plant organic
vegetables right at their own backyard and later on, the community will
establish a communal garden… They themselves will harvest the products,” Cueva
added.
During the short program conducted before the training, residents were
able to receive 90 pcs. pots, 35 sacks of vermicompost fertilizer, chicken
dung, 38 seedlings trays, 38 bolos, 38 sweat shirts and assorted seeds, among
others.
Brgy. Bangonay is one of the priority barangays identified by the local government unit of Agusan del Norte to be given interventions through skills and livelihood trainings. (TESDA Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)
Army assists NCIP in
reaching out to tribal community
By Capt. Joash U. Pramis
PLACER, Surigao del Norte, Oct. 8 -- The 901st Infantry (Fight’Em)
Brigade, Philippine Army through the 29th Infantry (Matatag) Battalion (29IB)
assisted the National Commission of Indigenous People (NCIP) in the conduct of
inter-agency visit to the Mamanwa tribe in Sitio Zapanta, Barangay Bangayan,
Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte, Tuesday, October 6.
The said activity was attended by Secretary Allen Capuyan, Chairman of
NCIP and at the same time the Executive Director of National Task Force in
Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
The visit was initiated to gain first-hand information about the
pressing issues and concern of the tribal communities within CADT 134
specifically their problems on ancestral domain management, livelihood and food
security programs, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic health
response, and human rights violations being perpetrated by the communist NPA
terrorists.
Present during the said event were Kitcharao Mayor Aristotle E.
Montante, 901st Brigade Commander Col. George L. Banzon, PNP Agusan del Norte
Provincial Director P/Col Martin M Gamba, 29IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col.
Isagani O Criste, and representatives from Department of Agriculture (DA),
Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Social Welfare and Development,
Commission on Human Rights, Department of Education and Department of the
Interior and Local Government.
In his message, Secretary Capuyan said that it was the 121st tribal
community to be visited by NCIP in their 65 days continuous travel in Mindanao.
He stated that the visit aims to show to the Indigenous People (IP) that the
government is present in their community, specifically, they aim to create a
venue for other agencies to know the actual situation of the IP in their
respective tribal communities. He also added that the NCIP as the main agency
that caters IP concern, they want to deepen the understanding of IP about their
rights as stated in the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act or IPRA Law
which aims to "Recognize, Protect and Promote the Rights of Indigenous
Cultural Communities/Indigenous People."
He urged the Mamanwa community to be united and act as one so that they
will have a formidable foundation in facing the challenges and resilient
against the threats and exploitation of interest group. In addition, he also
encouraged the IP to support the ‘whole of nation’ approach of the government
in its fight against insurgency. He explained to the tribal community how the
communist terrorist group exploits the vulnerabilities of IP for their
communist agenda. He said that through the NTF ELCAC, the government is
converging the efforts of different agencies to effectively address the issues
and concerns, particularly, the prevailing conditions of IP communities that
are susceptible to CTG exploitation.
On the other hand, he also encouraged the tribal leaders and its members
to be prudent and productive in the utilization of ancestral domains so
that they can contribute to the efforts of the local and national governments
in addressing the ill effects of global pandemic.
Meanwhile, Col. Banzon, lauded the efforts of the NCIP and other
agencies for reaching out to the tribal communities in the far-flung areas. He
said that the event was very timely because concerned agencies will have the
first-hand knowledge about the interventions needed for the tribal community.
“Zapanta Valley was known to many as the hotbed for insurgency. For
years, this place was associated with war and violence. This is the right time
for us to make this place worth living for our Mamanwa brothers and sisters,”
he said.
He also gave assurance that the 901st Brigade will continue to support
to the programs of NCIP and NTF ELCAC so that IP communities will be
strengthened and the fruition of peace efforts will also be enjoyed by every IP
member.
As the program ends, the tribal leaders expressed their heartfelt thanks
for giving importance to their community. They said that the significant event
will bring new hope to their people who have been deprived of a peaceful and
progressive community. (CMO Officer, 901IB/PIA Agusan del Norte)
Anti-COVID discrimination ug anti-mendicancy sa Nasipit aprobado na
By Ramil L. Pasco
DAKBAYAN SA BUTUAN, Oktubre 8 -- Giaprobahan sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan
sa Agusan del Norte sa ikaduhang pagbasa atol sa sesyon regular niini
kaniadtong Septembre 21, 2020, ang Sanggunian Resolution No. 418-2020 nga
nagdeklara nga balido ang Municipal Ordinance No. 010-2020 nga anti-COVID
discrimination ug ang Sanggunian Resolution No. 419-2020, nga nagdeklara nga
balido ang Municipal Ordinance No. 011-202, kabahin sa anti-mendicancy, tanan
gikan sa Sanguniang Bayan sa Nasipit, ning lalawigan.
Basi sa talaan sa Department of Health (DOH)-Caraga nga ang munisipyo sa
Nasipit nakatala karon og mga kaso sa Covid-19 nga gidudahan ug nakumpirmang
positibo.
Ang Municipal Ordinance No. 010-2020, nga gipangamahanan ni Sangguniang
Bayan Member Paterno S. Corvera, nahiuyon usab sa Provincial Ordinance
No.555-2020, usa ka ordinansa nga nagdili sa bisan kinsa nga tawo nga maghimo
bisan unsang buhat nga hinungdan sa kaulawan, pagpanghasi ug diskriminasyon sa
daghang mga tawo batok sa tawo nga infected sa sakit nga Corona virus lakip na
sa mga health workers, ug ingon man nagpatuman sa balaod sa lalawigan sa Agusan
del Norte ug pagpahamtang sa mga silot niini.
Sa laing bahin mahitungod sa Municipal Ordinance No. 11-2020, sa
munisipyo sa Nasipit, sa pagpangamahan ni Sangguniang Bayan Member Robertito J.
Delo Pere, nagdili kani sa mga manlilimos ug ang mga tawo nga adunay mga sakit
sa pangisip nga gawasnon nga nagsuroy-suroy sa kadalanan ug sa ubang pampubliko
nga mga lugar nga mahimong hinungdan sa pila ka mga krimen, nameligro ang
kinabuhi ug mga kabtangan, ingon man mga kagubot sa komunidad, labi na ning
panahon sa COVID-19 pandemic diin peligro ang kahimsog ug kaluwasan sa mga tawo
sa Nasipit.
Naaprobahan ang maong mga resolusyon ubos sa pagpangamahan ni Board Member James T. Reserva, tsirman sa Committee on Laws, Ethics and Good Government. (LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)
