Surigao tribes hail slain IP leader as hero

SURIGAO TRIBES HAIL SLAIN IP LEADER AS HERO By 1Lt. Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan

Surigao tribal leaders and members and the local government unit of Lianga rendered Indigenous People Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Datu Jumar S. Bucales a hero’s burial parade on October 10 in Diatagon, Lianga, this province. About a thousand tribe members from Surigao and Eastern Mindanao, local government officials, IPMRs, friends, supporters, and relatives flocked in the long walk to carry his remain to his final resting place. Bayan Muna representative Eufemia Campos Cullamat, her sister, CNT-linked Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod (MAPASU), and Northeastern Mindanao NPA Terrorist spokesperson Sandara Sidlakan accused Bucales to have participated in the killing of the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural Livelihood Development (ALCADEV) Executive Director Emerito Samarca but the accusation was eventually found baseless. CPP Information Officer Marco Valbuena, in his statement, claimed that the Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) were responsible for the ambush-slay of Bucales and his companions on October 4 in Barangay Banahao, Lianga town. Bucales served

only for nine months as Bucales also Lianga’s first IPMR but appeared in various was able to accomplish senate and congress tangible peace and hearings concerning development programs NPA terrorist killings of IP for the tribe, which leaders. included the facilitation Bucales, being a of the closure of NPA former NPA leader and Terrorist linked TRIFPSS organizer, revealed how and ALCADEV schools, CNTs exploit lumads the establishment of making him a hot target DepEd-SLT, electrification of the CNTs. In 2016-2018, of sitios, the rehabilitation he was ambushed thrice of farm-to-market roads and was finally killed on and various livelihood October 4. programs in the conflict- In his documentary affected communities entitled “Last Dance ni which are the gateways Bucales,” he said that to the Andap Valley he is no longer afraid of Range. death because that is the According to cost of standing for truth Lianga Mayor Novelita and fighting against CNTs M. Sarmen, Bucales who continually oppress proposed several the IPs. He also said that development plans in the since he surrendered hinterlands to boost the in 2006, he accepted eco and agri-tourism in the fact that he can die the municipality. anytime in the hands of

CNTs because it is the law of the CPP to kill all those who abandoned the terrorist armed revolution. The Surigao tribes, local government units, provincial government of Surigao del Sur, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) condemned the brutal killings of Bucales and other IPs in Surigao. “The attacks of the NPA are ‘disproportionate and brutal,’ and violate international humanitarian law,” said CHR Spokesperson Atty. Jacqueline de Guia said in a statement. Surigao del Sur supported the cause of Bucales and the Surigao tribe leaders to declare CPP-NPA as persona-non-grata in the whole province. During Bucales’ burial, Surigao tribes expressed their indignation through a protest. Surigao tribal leaders said that Datu Jumar Bucales may be gone but his name will be forever remembered as the one who truly loved and cared for the tribe. (3rd SFBn-CMO/PIASurigao del Sur)