Farmers, indigenous peoples and teachers have been tagged as terrorists and subjected to various forms of attack since Duterte assumed office. The Anti-Terror Bill, if enacted into law, would only escalate what they describe as “state terror” and would target ordinary citizens for merely exercising their constitutional rights.
By DEE AYROSO
“If we don’t fight now, when we grow up, we won’t have anything to fight for because it’s already too late.”
“In light of the closure of Lumad schools on the basis of unverified and malicious military reports, such [arrests] are indicative of incessant violations against indigenous and peasant communities.” By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL Bulatlat.com MANILA – Different groups assailed the recent arrests of a peasant leader and two Lumad volunteer teachers on Oct. 10…
The group noted that the so-called fact-finding team formed by the Education department did not even visit any of the 54 campuses.
The Department of Education’s order to suspend the operations of 55 lumad schools, mostly in Davao del Norte, is the latest challenge in the Mindanao indigenous people’s struggle to keep running their own schools as an expression of their cultural autonomy and identity. Should the DepEd order lead to the total shutdown of the schools…
By DEE AYROSO
“We are saddened that the government’s mandate to recognize and uphold the right of the Lumad to education and self-determination is superseded by a militaristic approach that further marginalizes the Lumad.”
President Rodrigo Duterte subjected Mindanao, the richest island in the Philippines, under Martial Law in May 2017 on account of the so-called terrorist siege of Marawi. One of the most affected groups in this island are the autonomously built and fully functional Lumad Schools. These schools have been the foci of community empowerment among the…
By KENNETH CADIANG
Datu Kaylo clarified that Salugpongan has been recognized by the NCIP Region XI as Tribal Council of elders in 2003, and it is entitled to all rights, benefits, and privileges granted under Republic Act 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples’Rights Act (IPRA).