Cotabato solon hits militants for using lumads for propaganda

North Cotabato Rep. Nancy Catamco on Monday said the indigenous people (IPs) in Haran have been used by certain groups for its propaganda.

Catamco delivered a privilege speech at the House of Representatives as she drew flak for allegedly insulting tribal people in a July 14 dialogue with members of a tribe who fled fighting between communist rebels and government soldiers.

The chair of the House national cultural communities committee said groups claiming to represent the IPs in Davao city used the Lumads to protest the alleged government inactions on IP communities.

She clarified her statement propagated by the Makabayan solons allegedly insulting the Lumads as stinky.

In a video she presented during the privilege speech, Catamco said her actual statement was: “Hindi kaya ng aking kalooban na makita ang mga bata sa lugar na ganito ang amoy (I can’t take it watching these children staying in this stinky place).”

According to a statement by the Makabayan, Catamco allegedly said: “Panguli na mo kay baho na kayo mo diri. (You should go back to your homes because you are already stinky here.)”

Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate were  present during the said dialogue. Ilagan later issued a separate statement saying she ratted out to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons the alleged insulting remarks of Catamco.

Catamco lamented that the plight of the lumads was used to advance these groups’ political interests.

“Nakakalungkot na sa Haran, hindi ang tinig at kagustuhan ng mga Lumad ang nangibabaw, kundi ang tinig at kagustuhan ng ibang tao o ng ibang organisasyon. Ito rin ang mga organisasyon na nagdala sa mga Lumad sa Haran. Ito rin ang mga organisasyong na hanggang ngayon – sa kabila ng kanilang kalunos-lunos at di makataong kalagayan – ay ayaw magpauwi sa kanila,” Catamco said.

“Maaring mayroong mga lehitimong isyu laban sa pamahalaan ang mga organisasyon sa likod ng Haran. Ang problema sa halip na ipahayag nila ito sa katanggap-tanggap na paraan ay ginamit nila – inutusan at sinanay pa – ang mga Lumad na magdala ng mga placards at alipustain ang pamahalaan at maging ang Pangulo ng bansa sa mga lansangan,” she added.

Catamco said these groups took advantage of the innate trusting nature of the Lumads.

“Sa tingin ko, isa itong maling halimbawa at masamang pamamaraan ng propaganda: Ang paggamit sa mga Lumad at pagsasamantala sa kanilang likas na pagiging mapagtiwala at kakulangan sa kaalaman upang maipaabot ang kanilang mga hinaing sa kinauukulang ahensya ng pamahalaan,” Catamco said.

In a previous statement, the Makabayan bloc – Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Kabataan, ACT Teachers, Anakpawis – said Catamco went to the July 14 dialogue in an evacuation center at the United Church of Christ Philippines Haran compound in Davao city where the Lumads held sanctuary after being allegedly displaced by the military.

The bloc said Catamco was being insensitive because instead of bringing the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples, Catamco brought the military “to strong-arm the evacuees into returning to their homes.”

“By inviting the military to the supposed dialogue, Rep. Catamco practically deceived the Lumads who had been complaining against military atrocities and abuses. What she did was not only  uncalled for — it was insensitive, insulting to the very people her legislative committee is supposed to look after,” the Makabayan bloc said.