Save the Lumads

It is so alarming that almost every day all the Lumads are subject to glaring human rights violations allegedly perpetrated by military personnel. However, all allegations made will eventually be known that the real perpetrators are not military personnel but members of some armed groups. A rebel tactic organizing militiamen to do crimes then pinpoint the government troops as perpetrators, then groups like Karapatan – an alliance for the advancement of people’s rights, Gabriela, and alike will make noise to deceive the public, persuades people to believe their lies, and appeals to win sympathy especially to the Lumads.

So good to be true, these heartless groups makes our country miserable. Their ruthless intentions bring chaos, bloodsheds, and fear. Recently, three poor civilian victims of the rebel group’s agenda lost their lives. Based from the PNP report, suspects who burned a cooperative and killed 3 people in Barangay Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur were Mr. Bobby Tejero, Loloy Tejero, Garito Layno and 20 John Does. Cases have been filed before the Provincial Prosecutors Office in Lianga, Surigao del Sur on September 7, 2015. The suspects were charged with grave coercion, multiple murder, arson, robbery, and grave threats.

May justice be served to the victims and may the Lumads be enlightened that the military is the hand of the government to protect them. The rebel groups are just fooling and demonizing the Lumads to go against the government. – Ma. Lourdes A. Garcia, Tandag, Surigao