NPA slays two more IP leaders in Surigao

THE New People’s Army (NPA) the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), shot dead two more indigenous tribal leaders in Surigao del Sur for their outspoken stand against communist atrocities that victimize the IP communities in the province and the rest of the country.

A report received by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) identified the victim as Datu Hawudon Jumar Bucales (Jomar Bocales) IPMR in Lianga, who was shot dead by communist gunmen in the town of San Miguel.

A day earlier, Ariel Guinsod Maca, another tribal leader and relative of Datu Rico Maca, was similarly gunned down by the NPA also in San Miguel, the report added.

They were also the 11TH and 12TH victims of the CPP-NPA in Surigao since March this year, the task force further noted.

The victims were from the Manobo tribe, the same tribe of Bayan Muna representative, Rep. Eufemia ‘Bae’ Cullamat.

Bayan Muna is part of the so-called ‘Makabayan Bloc’ in Congress comprising the CPP’s “legal democratic forces,” as confirmed by CPP founder, Jose Maria Sison.

NTF-ELCAC noted that in the last two months, Bucales has been joining a lot of its activities to promote awareness among the IP communities on the danger pose by CPP front organizations; the victim was also very active in supporting the activities of the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) aimed at empowering the country’s various IP communities to help them reject further CPP-NPA advances in their ancestral domains.

Bucales also attended the NCIP Web Forum last August 5, 2020, were among the invited guests and resource persons are the UN Special Rapporteur and the UN Resident Coordinator, together with Datu Rico Maca, a relative of the other victim, Ariel Guinsod Maca.

Bucales was also credited for spearheading the closure of CPP-NPA operated schools in Surigao where IP students are taught to hate the government and to become fighters of the NPA.

Statements now circulating in Surigao del Sur and in social media are calling for Cullamat to denounce the CPP-NPA for the continuing slaughter of her fellow Manobos.

A social media post of Datu Rico Maca, the day Bucales was killed dared Cullamat to “show” her “true color now.” Maca is the IPMR in the town of San Miguel.

“Mismo sa lungsod mo nangyari ito, Bae Cullamat.

“Ngayon mas lalo kang makikilala kung wala kang pagkondena sa teroristang NPA,” the post said.

(This happened in your own place, Bae Cullamat. Now you will be revealed if you will not condemn the terrorist NPA).