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Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Ocampo: Lumads are the victims
By Tek Ocampo
Newsroom
IN A modern day war, part of the battle is not won in the battlefield. But, how well the information disseminated can persuade the public to believe in it. That is why our government is using all its available resources in the AFP for such purpose.
But if the government is stepping up its information campaign, so does the long time enemy of the state-the New People's Army under the National Democratic Front of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
In the past few weeks, propaganda war between the AFP more particularly, the Task Force Davao (TFD), and the NPA erupted when three lumads were abducted by the group of Leonardo Pitao alias Kumander Parago of the Pulang Bagani Command in Paquibato district on January 25, 2006 allegedly for crimes against their fellow Lumads.
Lumads Tony Ligue and Inggo Lindaton escaped a few days later when the military conducted hot pursuit operations in the area. Rudy Adang, a former CAFGU and a Kagawad of Salapawn in Paquibato were left behind with Parago.
According to TFD, Parago was asking for four M-16 rifles in exchange for the release of Adang. However, through a press release allegedly signed by Parago himself and distributed to different media organizations, the NPA leader denied the allegations of TFD. It said Adang would have to face trial in the Kangaroo court for crimes of murder, rape and recruiting lumads to join the CAFGU.
According to George Madlos alias Ka Oris of the CPP/NDF southern Mindanao, the military is desperate and losing the propaganda war that is why they are making up stories to destroy the NPA.
Colonel Eduardo del Rosario, however, suspected that the rebels were using members of the militant groups, Bayan, Karapatan and Bayan Muna as their legal front to assist them in their propaganda war. Del Rosario believes it is physically impossible for Parago to sign the press releases because he is hiding in the mountains of Davao. But Jeppie Ramada and Ariel Casilao of Karapatan and Bayan Muna challenged del Rosario to arrest them and prove his suspicions.
While Adang was still in the hands of Parago, the AFP presented to media a number of NPAs who surrendered bringing with them their firearms. To the AFP, it's a news worthy story. But to the NPA, it's only propaganda, denying that the rebels who surrendered belong to their group.
After 42 days in captivity with the rebels, Rudy Adang was acquitted of the crimes he was supposed to have been charged with and released to Councilors Leonardo Avila and Jimmy Dureza somewhere in Paquibato. Unaware of the release, the military again called the release another propaganda of Parago to gain the support of the Lumads in the area.
The NPAs claims to be protecting the Lumads from the military who continue to allegedly abuse and use them as paramilitary group to fight them. The Military however countered by accusing the NPAs of terrorizing the Lumads in the hinterlands of Davao.
Frankly juts like many concerned citizens, I don't care so much about who wins in the propa war. I worry more about the lives and limbs of the Lumads that are caught in the crossfire. They have nowhere to go. Who will help them? I pity them. An author of a famous novel has once said "in war, the true enemy is war itself." If only we can put an end to the continuing conflict in Paquiabto and Marilog, Lumads and the "Bisaya" can live harmoniously without having to fear that an encounter would happen between government forces and the rebels within their ancestral domains.
I pray and hope that the plan of Councilor Jimmy Dureza to have a localized peace talks within the area will be supported by the local government, military, lumads, and the rebels. Give the Lumads peace of mind. It's time to focus on the real problem.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (March 15, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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