On the condemnation of the continuous recruitment of Manobo IP Youth as child warriors

The Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Council of Elders and Leaders (MIPCEL) condemns the continuous recruitment of the Manobo IP Youth in Liangga, Surigao del Sur as Child warriors in violation of the International Humanitarian Laws that resulted in the death of 3 Manobos, one of them a 12 year old girl.

​Long before the unfortunate incident in Liangga that killed 3 Manobo that include a 12 years old girl, We in the MIPCEL are already warning and urging the Communist Terrorist Groups operating in that area to stop killing the IPs and the recruitment of child warriors. This is not an extra ordinary case that a 12 years old recruited in the NPA from among the ranks of student from TRIFPSS. This is the reveleation of Bae Magdalena Gano that she was recruited at age of 12 years old to become member of the NPA. The same revelation made by Aweng Apuga who became squad leader of NPA at the age of 12.

​We had always warned that the radicalization of IP children who were pupils of the TRIFPSS will ultimately result to recruitment to the NPA.

​In that area also, we warned that MAPASU is an organization under KASALO, their regional formation of IP Organization that was established, organized and led by the CTGs under the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) and its Underground Mass Organization (UGMO) is the Rebolusyonaryong Organisadong Lumad, a member organization of NDF operating in the IP sector in Mindanao will led to recruitment to the NPA. That MAPASU ran by leaders who are member of ROL, like Bae Gloria Jumalon, sister of Rep Eufemia Culiamat and their brother Ka Batik Pablito Campus of Guerilla Front 21, NEMRC.

​It was also the same area where the daughter of Rep Culiamat, Jevelyn Culiamat, aka Ka Red, 22 a former pupil of TRIFPSS, died in the encounter with the AFP just recently.

​The pattern is very clear therefore, that members of MAPASU led by the UGMO under ROL are recruiting members of MAPASU to the NPA. Clear also that pupils in the TRIFPSS are being recruited as child warriors to the NPA. The fatalities were members of the Sub-Regional Sentro de Grabidad Southland, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC). A fact that is being exposed by IP Leaders in Surigao del Sur like Datu Rico Maca and the late Datu Jomar Bocales, the IPMR of Liangga who was brutally assassinated by the same NPA unit operating in the area last year.

​The pattern of covering and pointing the fingers to the operating unit of the AFP, responding to a report from @Cindy, captured 2 days before by the Save Our School Network (SOS) is not a surprise to us in the MIPCEL. Same organization that is manned by CTG cadres under the National United Front Committee (NUFC), had been in-charge of propaganda, alliances and mobilization who is also covering the CTGs violation of child trafficking in the Bakwit Schools in Cebu and UP Diliman.

​We are therefore condemning the real Human Rights and And International Humanitarian Law violators are the CPP NPA NDF. For had they not organize these MAPASU and established Lumad Schools like TRIFPSS, there would not be IP youth and children recruited to the NPA. That encounter that resulted to the death of Manobo including a 12 years old child would not occured.

​We are therefore echoing our call and warning for the IP/ICCs of Mindanao to expose and oppose these organization under KALUMARAN like MAPASU and the training camps covering as Lumad Schools like TRIFPSS under the Save Our School Network involved in Bakwit schools, will led them to supporting and advancing armed revolution that had cause so much suffering to the Indigenous Peoples in Mindanao.

Stop recruitment of child warriors through the so called Lumad schools like TRIFPSS!

​Stop recruitment of the IPs through the Front organizations like MAPASU!

​End the Communist Armed Conflict that bring suffering to our IP/ICCs!

​​​​​​​​​Lipatuan Joel Unad

​​​​​​​​​Chairman, MIPCEL