Surigao tribes hail slain IP leader as hero
By 1Lt. Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Oct. 13 -- Surigao tribal leaders and
members and the local government unit of Lianga rendered Indigenous People
Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Datu Jumar S. Bucales a hero’s burial parade on
October 10 in Diatagon, Lianga, this province.
About a thousand tribe members from Surigao and Eastern Mindanao, local
government officials, IPMRs, friends, supporters, and relatives flocked in the
long walk to carry his remain to his final resting place.
Bayan Muna representative Eufemia Campos Cullamat, her sister,
CNT-linked Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod (MAPASU), and
Northeastern Mindanao NPA Terrorist spokesperson Sandara Sidlakan accused
Bucales to have participated in the killing of the Alternative Learning Center
for Agricultural Livelihood Development (ALCADEV) Executive Director Emerito
Samarca but the accusation was eventually found baseless.
CPP Information Officer Marco Valbuena, in his statement, claimed that
the Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) were responsible for the ambush-slay of
Bucales and his companions on October 4 in Barangay Banahao, Lianga town.
Bucales served only for nine months as Lianga's first IPMR but was able
to accomplish tangible peace and development programs for the tribe, which
included the facilitation of the closure of NPA Terrorist linked TRIFPSS and
ALCADEV schools, the establishment of DepEd-SLT, electrification of sitios, the
rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads and various livelihood programs in the
conflict-affected communities which are the gateways to the Andap Valley
Range.
According to Lianga Mayor Novelita M. Sarmen, Bucales proposed several
development plans in the hinterlands to boost the eco and agri-tourism in the
municipality.
Bucales also appeared in various senate and congress hearings concerning
NPA terrorist killings of IP leaders.
Bucales, being a former NPA leader and organizer, revealed how CNTs
exploit lumads making him a hot target of the CNTs. In 2016-2018, he was
ambushed thrice and was finally killed on October
4.
In his documentary entitled “Last Dance ni Bucales," he said that
he is no longer afraid of death because that is the cost of standing for truth
and fighting against CNTs who continually oppress the IPs. He also said that
since he surrendered in 2006, he accepted the fact that he can die anytime in
the hands of CNTs because it is the law of the CPP to kill all those who
abandoned the terrorist armed revolution.
The Surigao tribes, local government units, provincial government of
Surigao del Sur, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) condemned the brutal killings of Bucales and
other IPs in Surigao.
“The attacks of the NPA are 'disproportionate and brutal,' and violate
international humanitarian law,” said CHR Spokesperson Atty. Jacqueline de Guia
said in a statement.
Surigao del Sur supported the cause of Bucales and the Surigao tribe
leaders to declare CPP-NPA as persona-non-grata in the whole province. During
Bucales’ burial, Surigao tribes expressed their indignation through a protest.
Surigao tribal leaders said that Datu Jumar Bucales may be gone but his
name will be forever remembered as the one who truly loved and cared for the
tribe. (3rd SFBn-CMO/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
COVID-19 molecular diagnostic lab, itinayo sa Surigao del Norte
By Venus L. Garcia
LUNGSOD NG SURIGAO, Surigao del Norte, Oktubre 13 (PIA) -- Isang
molecular diagnostic laboratory ang kasalukuyang itinatayo ngayon sa lalawigan
ng Surigao del Norte.
Umabot sa 18 milyong piso ang naiambag ng iba’t ibang mining firms sa
lalawigan bilang suporta sa lokal na pamahalaan sa paglaban sa coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“Pinakiusapan natin ang Philippine Red Cross na siyang mamamahala o
tatao sa ating molecular laboratory. Sa ilalim ng usufruct agreement, may 2,000
square meters na lote ang ipapagamit ng Surigao State College na tatayuan ng
molecular laboratory,” ani Simeon Vicente Castrence, Surigao del Norte assistant
provincial administrator at spokesperson.
Ayon kay Castrence, nasa 2,000 swab specimen ang maaaring maiproseso
dito sa loob ng isang araw kapag naging operational na ang laboratoryo.
“Ang mga swab specimen ay hindi na natin ipapadala sa Davao. Dito na mismo
sa lungsod ng Surigao ipo-process at sa loob ng 24 hours malalaman na natin
agad ang resulta,” sabi ni Castrence.
Kasalukuyang nagti-training na din anya ang mga med-tech na
magseserbisyo sa nasabing testing lab.
Inaasahang magiging operational na ang laboratoryo ngayong buwan ng
Nobyembre.
Dahil sa naitalang local transmission sa probinsiya, nananatiling nasa
modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) ang munisipyo ng San Isidro,
Dapa, Del Carmen, Pilar, Socorro at lungsod ng Surigao. May ilan namang
barangay ang inilagay sa enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Extended din ang travel restrictions at pagsususpendi ng byahe ng mga
passenger, private o hired sea vessels papunta at pabalik sa alinmang seaport
ng probinsiya hanggang ika-20 ng Oktubre.
“Your local government is working for you and the provincial government is in action para sa kapakanan ng lahat ng Surigaonon. Stay safe!” ani Castrence. (VLG/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
