It might have been a casual comment but former Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño is hoping that President Benigno Aquino III was serious in wanting to discuss the issue of “lumad killings” with him.
During the Aquino Meets Inquirer Multimedia forum on Tuesday, Casino’s tweet on the human-rights violations against indigenous peoples in Mindanao was read by the Inquirer social media team.
READ: FULL TEXT: Aquino meets Inquirer Multimedia; tackles INC, love life, others
The President was asked, “What is the government doing to stop the killing of Lumad in Mindanao?”
Before giving his answer, Aquino said, “Baka I should talk to Teddy Casiño after this and asked him for the details of the same.”
Aquino insisted there is no government campaign ordering the killing of people.
“Serving the people does not entail killing any of our citizens,” he said.
READ: Aquino on ‘lumad’ killings: There is no campaign to kill anybody
Casiño, who is now an officer of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) replied through his blog and said, “Mr. President, I hope you were serious when you thought of talking to me. Just tell me when and where, I will drop everything to meet with you on this very urgent matter.”
“Just last month, I met with the lumad leaders who had taken refuge in the UCCP Haran Compound in Davao City and one of the things they specifically told me was to make sure to let you know about their plight.
“I explained that we weren’t exactly cozy with each other but that I would try to find a way,” he said. “And then your statement about possibly meeting with me on their issue. My gosh, the heavens might just be listening.”
Casiño said he hopes to bring with him lumads or indigenous people from Mindanao who would be able to share their personal experiences with Aquino.
He said that if the meeting does not push through, Aquino can read about the incidents of lumad killings. He gave links to incidents in Surigao del Sur, Bukidnon and Davao.
“The pattern is similar: lumad leaders and their families suspected of being NPA (New People’s Army) sympathizers gunned down in cold blood by suspected soldiers or para-military groups,” Casiño said.
Earlier, Surigao del Sur Governor Johnny Pimentel told the media that the Magahat-Bagani paramilitary force, that has been tagged in the lumad killings, is a group created by the Armed Forces of the Philippines for counterinsurgency. Kristine Angeli Sabillo, TVJ