DAVAO CITY — TEN influential tribal leaders from the Ata-Manobo tribes of Talaingod, Davao del Norte and three IP Mandatory Representatives from Santo Tomas town signed a document, declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army, National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), their allied organizations, other terrorist groups and their supporters as persona non-grata.
The signing of the declaration was done during an Indigenous Peoples (IP) Leaders Forum on Saturday, November 16 , at Sitio Talos, Barangay San Jose, Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte.
In a press statement posted on the town’s Facebook account, Sto. Tomas town Administrator Elisa Evangelista-Lapiña said, the gathering of the IP leaders and the declaration was an indispensable move to maintain the “peace and harmony” that the tribal community has long enjoyed for decades.
“We are sending them [Reds] a message that they are not welcome here. The tribal leaders and the Ata-Manobo tribes have spoken up. The Reds should heed their decision,” Lapiña said.
She also told the IP leaders that the move was essential in order to end the influence of the communists in tribal communities and further prohibit them from exploiting the indigenous peoples.
A tribal leader who refused to be identified in vernacular said “We are tired of supporting them, giving them protection-we realized now, they used us, it was not true that they protect us.”
Lapiña said “Their declaration was actually a manifestation of their desire to have a just and lasting peace in their community. We, in the government, would strive really hard to support them by making all the social services accessible to them.”
During the previous months, rebels killed tribal leaders who were vocal against the communist movement.
Lt. Col. Silas Trasmonte, commander of the Philippine Army’s 89th IB and other key officials present during the ceremony assured the tribal leaders of their security.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.-ezc/
