Mindanao lumads in Cebu to protest against Duterte, US

CEBU, Philippines - At least 500 lumads and Moro people from Mindanao arrived in Cebu City to protest and call for the end of what they call the “US-Duterte Regime’’ as they march down along the road of Osmeña Boulevard today.

Kerlan Fanagel, spokesperson of Pambansang Lakbayan Mindanao 2017, said Moro and Lumads are minorities who had been long deprived of the privilege and services offered by the national government.

“Kami dugay na kaming gi-deny niining kawalay batakang serbisyo.  Kining minorya sa mga lumad nihit kaayo ang nadawat nga suporta ug serbisyo sa gobyerno susama sa panlawas o edukasyon kay ang ilahang rason layo mi sa komunidad,” he said.

Fanagel expressed disappointment over what he called the systematic and aggressive way of the government in taking over what were supposed to be Moro lands and inherited territories.

“Dugay na gyud ni kaniadto pang panahon sa colonization. Malinawon nga nagpuyo ang atong mga kaigsuonang mga Moro sa Marawi apan gusto gyu d nga angkonon sa mga langyaw nga korporasyon, ilabi na sa mga plantasyon, ang teritoryo sa mga Moro,” he said.

He said effort of the indigenous people to defend their territories and the struggle to call out and be heardover their right to their ancestral domain had led to continuous harassment, discrimination, intense militarization and even killings.

The Moro people and the lumads are considered as national minorities of Mindanao whose lands are rich in minerals like lead, zinc, ore, iron, copper, chromite, nickel, manitite and gold as well as other resources such as natural gas and oil deposits.

Fanagel said there has been an increase in mining applications in Mindanao, and alleged that despite objections by the communities, the government had been doing ways to help the companies.

“Ang amoa unta hatagan mi ba og katungod nga mupili sa amoang gusto nga mamahimong leader nga maoy mudesisyon sa kaayohan sa amoang komunidad. Ang buhaton sa gobiyerno kay mu-appoint sila og tao nga maoy himuon nilang leader sa usa ka komunidad aron lang naay makapirma sa kun unsa man gani ang mga aktibidad nga pagabuhaton nila,” he said.

These are the reason why they blame the US and the Duterte administration for continuously implemented a “systematic and foreign-state-policy-based government.

Meanwhile, Jaime Paglinawan, Bayan Central Visayas chairperson, said they were hoping that the current administration would hear the cry of these minority groups.

“Imbis kalamboan ang ihatag sa atoang gobiyerno ug pagrespeto unta sa mga yutang gibilin, gihatag man hinuon sa mga langyaw ug dagkong korporasyon. Kini silang mga Lumad mao ni sila ang biktima, dili ni sila mga peke nga biktima,” he said, adding that Bayan is supporting their fight against discrimination.

The lumads have also claimed that the Martial Law in Mindanao is affecting them negatively, alleging that illegal searches and divestment of properties, which are violations of their human rights, are happening.

Islamophobia in the area and other parts of the country also made the recovery of the Moro people more difficult since they are mostly stigmatized as terrorists. (FREEMAN)