DISPLACED residents of Sitio Camansi, Banglay in Lagonglong town, Misamis Oriental, who fled to the safety of the Provincial Capitol grounds, are upset after men who claimed to be from the “city” conducted an unannounced film showing that, according to them, was “meant to degrade and tarnish the image and dignity of the indigenous people.”
Sariza Acosta, spokesperson of the evacuees, said they suspect the military had a hand in the film showing which portrayed them in a bad light supposedly because of their objections to the military presence in their community.
Acosta said there were three men who took charge of the film showing and the men introduced themselves as personalities from the “city”. The men said they coordinated with the Capitol officials.
"Naka-civilian ra man to sila unya ilang ingon nga taga 'city' daw sila unya nangutana mi sa taga kapitolyo wala man daw sila kabalo kay naghangyo mi nga mapalong kay ngil-ad kaayo (They were in civilian clothes and they said they were from the ‘city’. We asked some Capitol personnel regarding the men but they said they know nothing about them. We requested them to stop the film showing because it was bad),"Acosta said.
"Duda namo mga Army to sila kay karon suko mana sila sa amo basin gani naghuna-huna pa sila unsaon mi pag-harass (We suspect that they were soldiers because the Army is angry at us . We think they are plotting to harass us),"she added.
Acosta said the 30-minute video showed how the 'lumad' were easily convinced and exploited by the New Peoples Army (NPA) because they were the most disadvantaged sector of the society.
She said the video also showed that evacuees from the indigenous communities like them are being organized and used by left-leaning organizations.
But Acosta insisted that the groups who supported them were just there to help and that no organizations orchestrated their encampment.
"Para namo kato nga video pagpakaminus to sa among mga lumad. Wala mi ma-brainwash kay duna kami kaugalingong baruganan ug barugan namo ang pagdepensa sa among yutang kabilin (We lumad felt insulted by the video. We have not been brainwashed. We have our own advocacy which is to defend our ancestral land ),"Acosta added.
Acosta also said they are being accused by the military of not supporting the development efforts of the government.
Acosta said government projects are welcome if these are done to improve the lives of the people in their community.
Meanwhile, the mother of the 9-year old girl who was molested after being abducted by two motorcycle-riding men Tuesday dawn, June 5, said they are no longer interested in having the girl undergo medical examination and in filing a case.
Jhunleymar Abella, a social worker from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, said the mother already signed a waiver stating that her daughter was not raped.
But Abella said while they respect the mother's decision, their office remains willing to cooperate and coordinate with the police in the investigation.