The “lumads” or indigenous peoples of Mindanao camping out at Liwasang Bonifacio started marching toward Mendiola as the local government of Manila gave them only until 6 p.m. on Friday to leave the park, ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Economic Leaders’ Meeting that will be held in the capital city next week.
Mayor Joseph Estrada extended the camp-out deadline, which originally expired on Thursday, after a closed-door dialogue with lumad leaders Jomorito Goaynon, Ferlan Fanagel, and Eufemia Cullamat on Friday afternoon.
Goaynon said they have no clear destination yet upon the expiration of the extended deadline.
READ: Estrada invites ‘lumad’ protesters to closed-door dialogue at city hall
“Actually ilang beses inulit ni Mayor Estrada na galing ito sa Malacañang,” Goaynon said.
(Mayor Estrada repeatedly stressed that this [order] came from the Malacañang.)
“Talagang dismayado kami… Ito kasi ang order ng Palasyo ng Malacañang. Ito ang order ni Pangulong Aquino, kaya ito talaga ay mandato para mabigyan ng pagkakataon yung mga officials, mga presidente ng ibang bansa na dadating sa Apec summit kaysa sa mga Pilipino na kumakayod para sa ekonomiya ng bansa. Ito ‘yung pilit nilang itinatago,” he added.
(We are truly disappointed… This was Malacañang’s order. This was President Aquino’s order so this mandate gives precedence to officials and leaders of other countries who will attend the Apec summit over the Filipinos who are toiling for our country’s economy. This is what he has been trying to conceal.)
Goaynon critcized the Aquino government for prioritizing the arrival of foreign leaders for the Apec summit while supposedly turning blind on their grievances.
“Si Pangulong Aquino pilit niyang ipinapakita ang kanyang pagka-tuta, ang kanyang pagka-pasista. Walang pagkiling sa sambayang Pilipino, kung hindi ang pinipili n’ya ay ‘yung mga polisiya ng mga dambuhalang kumpanya at korporasyon para patuloy ang pandarambong at pananamkam ng lupa,” he said.
(President Aquino insists on displaying his deference, his fascism. No allegiance to the Filipino countrymen, instead he prefers the policies of the big companies and corporations in order to continue the plunder and land-grabbing.)
Chief Superintendent Rolando Nana said there were no plans of dispersal operations, noting that Estrada instructed Manila police to aid the lumads in leaving the park.
READ: ‘Lumad’ protesters call for junking of Apec, eye march to Mendiola
“Sa ngayon wala namang dispersal kasi ang usapan naman ay gentlemen’s agreement naman ito,” Nana said.
(As of now, we have not received a dispersal order, since this was supposed to be a gentleman’s agreement.)
“Ang instruction nga ni mayor ay ‘yung city government ay i-assist sila sa dismantling ng kanilang mga camps. Mga sasakyan ay ipo-provide ng city government,” he added.
(The mayor has instructed that the city government would assist In dismantling their camps. The government will also provide vehicles.)
The lumad groups, which arrived at the capital region last month, started to camp out at Liwasang Bonifacio on Nov. 2 after staying for a week at the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman Quezon City. CDG