NCIP disowns Federal Tribal Government of the Philippines
DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur, Philippines — The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) on Tuesday repeated its April 15 advisory that warned the public against the group Federal Tribal Government of the Philippines (FGTP), which claimed to represent the Lumad.
Lawyer Geroncio Aguio, NCIP regional director, said in a letter that FGTP was not recognized by NCIP, nor by the Indigenous Political Structure (IPS) of the Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) in Southern Mindanao.
The FGTP is headed by Carlito Escudero, also known as Datu Higyawan na Halag-ayan.
“Any activities and or transactions of this group is not in any way attached to this office,” Aguio said, referring to the NCIP.
He also said that, although Fulong Douglas Mangcal, had been an acknowledged member of the B’laans in Matanao, Davao del Sur, he was not a recognized elder or leader of the tribe.
“The public is hereby advised to exercise caution in engaging in activities of this group and to take necessary precaution in dealing with FGTP or its representatives,” Aguio said.
The advisory was released by NCIP after the FGTP, claiming to represent the Lumad in Davao del Sur, circulated a statement on June 20 calling on the government to allow the Kapa Community Ministry International investment scheme to reopen.
Datu Mangcal, who identified himself as the FTGP provincial tribal chieftain of Blaan Tribe in Davao del Sur, asked the government to dismiss all the cases against Kapa because Kapa had been “helping the poor, including the Lumad.”
(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)
