AN ETHICAL EVALUATION OF LUMAD KILLINGS

Group Members:

Angeles, Emerie R.
Arbole, Sachiko S.
Calayo, Jan Vincent A.
Coronel, Adrian Daniel D.
Gutierrez, Adrian T.
Magturo, Bjarne A.

Summary of the Issue

The term Lumad means Born of the Earth. Lumads are considered to be the original
inhabitants of Mindanao. There are at least 17 ethnolinguistic Lumad groups.

The Lumad people have been displaced before but recently, evictions from their home have
been frequent and violent. The Lumad communities have been threatened and in the past year alone,
community leaders and elders have been brutally murdered. Some of these people are Emerito
Samarca (Executive Director of Lumad School ALCADEV), Dionel Campos (Chairman of Lumad
Community Organization Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alaang sa Sumusunod) and Jovillo Sinzo (The tribal
leader of Sitio Kiwagan, Barangay San Isidro). Last August, an entire family, the Samia Family, was
massacred.

The Lumads have fled their homes due to the harassment and killing of the military and
paramilitary groups. The goal of these military and paramilitary groups, who are suspects for the
killings, is to kill these innocent people in exchange for 15 million tons of copper and 17.6 million
ounces of gold. Since this amount of money is at stake, even the education of the Lumad kids is
affected.

Lumads have been deprived of basic social services such as health care and education. School
children are being threatened because Lumad schools have been attacked and occupied by military
groups. For the Lumad kids, going to school are like going to a place where they can easily be shot and
killed.

The ancestral homeland of the Lumad, which sits atop one of the richest deposits of gold and
natural resources in the world, is the suspected reason for the killings in the Lumad communities. The
Lumad people dont even benefit from this rich amount of natural resources around their community
but they suffer because of it.

A Utilitarian Approach

The ancestral land of the Lumads is vastly rich with minerals on the inside and a plentiful
number of trees. Due to this, mining corporation like the XR Mining Company and other logging
businesses want wants to established their own corporation and get a piece of the land which the
Lumads are protecting.

People say that the businesses will be beneficial to our economy. Mining and logging here in our
country is a big business because of the ample amount of resources we have. It will be an asset to our
countries wealth. It will also create several jobs to those who wanted to work, thus having a way to
provide for ones family.

The basic principle of Mill's Utilitarianism is the greatest happiness principle (PU): an action is
right insofar as it maximizes general utility, which Mill identifies with happiness. Since for the
Utilitarian Theory, what is important is the amount of pleasure an action could give, therefore Lumad
Killings for Mills theory is moral. For it will give the greater amount of pleasure of the greater number
of people.

More people will be happy and benefited if the different business will push through because it
will create job opportunities for the people so that they can have way to provide their families. This
will also provide the area with an economic foundation in which sectors of society will benefit from.
New opportunities may arise with the introduction of investors of different companies.

A Deontological Approach

For Kants Deontological theory, it is a must to act in such a way that you always treat
humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means, but
always at the same time as an end. It is also necessary to apply the test of Universalizability in every
action we are about to do.

According to Kant, the moral worth of an action is determined by the human will, which is the
only thing in the world that can be considered good without qualification. Good will is exercised by
acting according to moral duty/law. Moral law consists of a set of maxims, which are categorical in
nature we are bound by duty to act in accordance with categorical imperatives: Act only according to
that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law without
contradiction and; Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the
person of any other, never merely as a means to an end but always at the same time as an end.

With regards to Lumad Killings, it is obviously immoral for this approach. Respect for humanity
was clearly violated. According to the Respect for Life Principle all living things have a moral status and
on account of that should not be killed or harmed for any reason. In this theory, what matters the most
is the action itself and as to what kind of person you are, regardless of whatever effect the act may
give. Although killing the Lumads will give benefit to many people, the act was wrong. Killing the
innocent Lumad people will make the doer of the act as immorals.

Deontological Theory also emphasizes the importance of the Rule of universalizability. An act
must be applicable for everyone who is in the same moral situation. The act of Lumad killings,
regardless of the reason, violated the concept of Universalizability. If all people will kill just to get
something they want, is it right? It is absolutely no. This act cannot be universalized. Therefore, for
Kants Deontological theory, Lumad Killings was immoral.

A Teleological Approach

A lot of indigenous people namely the Lumads have been sacrificed to attain what the mining
companies think can satisfy their happiness for money. The question is, are they contended for what
they have done? Can this killing of innocent people fulfil their happiness? Do they know that what they
are doing is excessive greed for money that they tend to forget the virtues of a person?

In every angle we look at this kind of action we can create a conclusion that it is absolutely
wrong. It isnt justifiable by saying we are only doing this for the money or they dont own this land
therefore we can do anything we want. Even though their business can bring a lot of money in our
country and provide jobs for those blue collar workers, it isnt reasonable enough to take advantage of
their power and force the Lumads out of their ancestral land. In what manner they took the land?
Forcefully because they killed the Lumad leaders in every community to weaken their morale, burned
their homes, confiscate all learning materials used in Lumad schools which left the Lumads with no
choice but to vacate the land.

Contentment comes to those people who found happiness in what they have done. However
we all know that this kind of business minded people cannot be satisfied or contented by this small
amount of profit they will earn. They will continue to dig deeper to earn more money therefore
destroying more lives. It is important to help the country but it is more important to do what they
think can satisfy them to make them happy.

To conclude this, Lumad killings for the Teleological Theory was immoral. Contentment and
happiness should be taken consider for every course of action. Based on what we have stated on the
first and second paragraphs, this kind of action clearly violated the rules of teleological framework
which is to be happy and contented and set moderation for reason, manner, time, resources and
people. They also lost the virtues that should be set in the middle to avoid losing the happiness
because we will continue to desire more things.

Group Stand on the Issue

As for our stand, we go against the killing of the Lumads. This act was immoral. The Theory
that we would implement on our topic and would support our stand is the Deontological Theory. The
killing of the Lumad people has violated the Deontological Theory by all means.

First of all, the reason of why they are being pushed of their ancestral homes is not of the right
morality. The motive of the killing is to drive them out of their ancestral land because their ancestral
land is vastly rich with natural resources. This was such a ruthless method. Consider this vast incident,
the Lumad schools were shut down and the key members of their community were assassinated.
Thinking that by demoralizing them, they would eventually budge out from their homes, the
perpetrators act was unreasonable. No respect for the humanity was evidently showed by the people
behind this act.

The two pillars of Reason were also violated. First, the killing is outright immoral. No one
would ever consider killing almost an entire ethnic group just to get their ancestral land and exploit its
natural resources. Secondly, their ways of driving out the Lumads is considered inhuman because their
methods disrespect the value of the humanity of the Lumad. Even after all of this, the ones
responsible for this cruelty is still in obscurity. Some say it is the governments own military, some say
it is the rebels that dislikes the mining business on the said land. One thing is for sure, the Lumad will
never get the justice they so long needed until the real suspects were put into trial.

The act of Lumad killings, regardless of the reason, will violate the concept of
Universalizability. If all people will kill just to get something they want, is it right? It is absolutely no.
This act cannot be universalized therefore, for Kants Deontological theory, Lumad Killings was
immoral. We strongly believe that Deontological Theory is the best ethical theory to support our stand.

In conclusion, our group believes that Lumad Killings was immoral. Our stand was evidently
supported by Kants Deontological Theory of Ethics.

APPENDIX 1

TIMELINE: Attacks on the Lumad of Mindanao

'A form of ethnocide,' the attacks on the indigenous communities in the last 4 months are concentrated
in Bukidnon, Davao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur

Karlos Manlupig
Published 9:00 AM, September 16, 2015
Updated 9:00 AM, September 16, 2015

DAVAO CITY, Philippines Kalumaran, a confederation of different indigenous tribes in Mindanao, has
expressed alarm over a series of direct attacks, killings, arrests, harassments, zoning, and vilification in
Lumad areas where it says there is a strong resistance against environmental plunder.
The attacks are concentrated in the provinces of Bukidnon, Davao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur, which
are hosts to Lumad schools that are privately operated but are regulated by the Department of
Education (DepEd).
"It is a form of ethnocide but it is worse because there are specific characteristics of impunity and
killings targeting the Lumad. What is alarming is that it is happening all over Mindanao," said
Kalumaran secretary general Dulphing Ogan.
Several incidents have been reported in the last 4 months:
May 2015
More than 700 Lumad were displaced from Talaingod in Davao del Norte after alleged government
forces and the anti-communist paramilitary group Alamara occupied several villages in the town and in
Kapalong. Human rights groups reported of cases of harassments, vilification and indiscriminate firing.
Hundreds of students were also deprived of the right to attend their classes after at least 24 primary
and secondary schools operated by the Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanugon Community Learning Center
(STTICLC) and Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Incorporated Academy were shut down and the
teachers were threatened to be killed.

Davao del Norte Division head of the DepEd Josephine Fadul said the recommendation for the closure
of the schools was based on a meeting with high-ranking military officials at the "Regional Intelligence
Committee" on April 23.
June
The Department of Education Region XI declared that the schools were "not closed but just not
reopened." The military and DepEd announced that the schools would be replaced by the military using
"para-teachers" or soldiers who will act as teachers.
The administrations of the schools cried foul over the decision of DepEd, asserting that the government
should facilitate the involvement of NGOs that are trying to fill in the gaps in the education sector.
STTICLC and MISFI explained that the inaccessibility of the area and the present conflict situation made
the process of compliance more challenging.
July 23
More than 500 policemen and government agents, led by North Cotabato 2nd District Representative
Nancy Catamco, conducted a "rescue operation" at the evacuation center at the Haran Center, which is
operated by the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, to force them to return home.
The event resulted in violence after the police forcibly opened the gates of the center and stormed
with their truncheons and shields, which left at least 17 Lumads, including a tribal elder, and 2 cops
injured.
July 26
Chaloka Beyani, the United Nations special rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced
persons, went to the evacuation center in Davao City to talk to the tribal leaders and displaced
residents. He said that his impression was the Lumad were not being detained inside the evacuation
center contrary to the claims of the military. Beyani said no one should forcibly take away the Lumad
from the evacuation center.
August 13
Beyani issued another statement, saying that the military "distorted and misrepresented" his views
making it appear that he was accusing support groups of manipulating the Lumad. Eastern Mindanao
Command's spokesperson Colonel Eduardo Gubat resigned after making a public apology.
August 18
Five Lumad, including a 13-year-old and a 17-year-old, were killed by the Special Forces in
Pangantucan town in Bukidnon. The military said they were rebels, but the New People's Army denied
the claims, saying the victims were civilians. Later, the 4th Infantry Division, despite their press

releases and press conferences claiming that the 5 Lumad were rebels, recanted and accused the NPA
of killing the victims.
August 24
A 14-year-old Manobo girl from Talaingod filed rape charges against 3 soldiers. The military confirmed
that the suspects were soldiers, but explained that the charges were dropped after they paid P63,000
to the family.
August 27
Soldiers arrested 11 Manobo tribal and farmer leaders in the town of Kitaotao and transported them by
a helicopter. The soldier then declared that the village was already "liberated" from the NPA. The
military said the arrest was made after they served 57 search warrants in a community of suspected
communist rebels, where they reportedly yielded an improvised M16 rifle, an M79 grenade launcher, 3
rifle grenades, two explosives, and subversive documents.
Isidro Indao, spokesperson of the Kahugpongan sa mga Mag-uuma sa Kitaotao (KMK), denied the
military's claims. He asserted that these leaders and organizations were targeted because they were
vocal in the campaign against human rights abuses in the mountain communities and were calling for
the armed groups, most especially the military, not to occupy civilian villages.
August 28
Several families fled their homes after the Bagani paramilitary group, led by a certain Jasmin Acevedo,
killed Lumad brothers Crisanto and Loloy Tagugol in the poblacion area of San Miguel town in Surigao
del Sur.
September 1
At least 2,000 residents from the village of Diatagon in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, were displaced after a
group of paramilitary, allegedly accompanied by soldiers, killed Emerico Samarca, executive director of
the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV).
Samarca was found hogtied, with a stab wound, his throat slit open inside a classroom. ALCADEV is a
privately operated but government-regulated learning institution that provides basic and technical
education to Lumad children in communities rarely reached by government services.
After killing Samarca, the armed men peppered with bullets Dionel Campos and his cousin Datu Bello
Sinzo while the entire village was watching. Campos was a community leader and the chairperson of
the indigenous people group Maluhutayong Pakigbisog Alansa sa Sumusunod (Mapasu), which is known
for its firm position on the protection of ancestral lands and its campaign against human rights
violations targeting indigenous people.

September 2
At least 10 houses and a Lumad school were burned by the Magahat-Bagani paramilitary group in the
community in Panocmo-an in Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao de Sur. The group also burned a corn sheller
owned by the community in Kabulohan. Both communities are not far from the site where Samarca,
Campos, and Sinzo were killed.
September 4
Residents sought refuge after an armored personnel carrier and two 6x6 military trucks carrying
soldiers in full battle gear rolled inside a village in Pangantucan town in Bukidnon.
September 8
Five Lumad evacuees were arrested by a cop in Tandag City for distributing leaflets about the recent
attacks.
Ogan of Kalumaran said his group had documented only the major cases. There are other reports of
daily harassment, zoning, and occupation done by the military and paramilitary groups.
Surigao del Sur Governor Johnny Pimentel recently blamed the paramilitary behind the attacks, but he
disclosed that these groups were "monsters created by the military" for its counterinsurgency
campaign.
Pimentel said that no ragtag bandit can own several high-powered firearms that cost P150,000 each
without the help of the military.
The military quickly denied any involvement in the attacks, and vowed to fully support the ongoing
investigations.
Colonel Isidro Purisima, commander of 402nd Infantry Brigade, said that the persons identified with the
Magahat-Bagani group are not even included in the list of CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA) personnel.
The AFP adheres to the Law of the land. As provided for in the Constitution to wit: Providing for the
Citizen Armed Force whose main function is to protect their communities against any threat group that
are disturbing the socio-economic activities and the peaceful-living of our people. The CAA is the only
legitimate force being supervised by the AFP. Other armed groups shall be the subject of Law
Enforcement Operations conducted by the PNP," Purisima said.

Your Army will continue its constitutional mandate of protecting the people and securing the
community and will never stop in our efforts in bringing peace in these areas. We are calling everyone
to stop violence and give peace a chance. the colonel added.
Pimentel dismissed the military's statement supporting an investigation. He said that if the Armed
Forces of the Philippines is sincere in its efforts to achieve peace, then it should immediately disband
and disarm all paramilitary groups and spare all civilian communities from its counterinsurgency
campaign.
Kalumaran said the military and paramilitary groups are probably annoyed that tribal communities
stand firm in their position not to allow mining and logging companies to operate inside their ancestral
land.
"These areas are the best spots to extract gold, nickel, and copper. And these areas are also the
remaining forests in Mindanao," Ogan said. Rappler.com

APPENDIX 2

'Lumad' protest mining in Sultan Kudarat

By: Dennis Arcon, InterAksyon.com

August 8, 2014 8:44 AM

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines -- More than 500 lumad, or indigenous people, in Sultan Kudarat province, joined
by religious, held a rally Thursday in Barangay Salangsang, Lebak town, to protest the operations of a
mining company.
Pastor Mary Joy Mirasol said the lumad picketed the office of XR Mining Company because they fear the
firms operations will not only dislocate them but also destroy the environment and their traditional
sources of livelihood.
The protesters said the firm is looking to mine gold within 5,000 hectares of the town, most of these
farmlands.
Lebak Mayor Dionesio Besana said his office has not cleared the operations of XR Mining.
In fact, the local government has passed a resolution prohibiting mining firms from operation in the
town.
Earlier, tensions between the indigenous people and the mining firm erupted in violence when a still
unidentified lumad hacked and wounded a company guard.
Thursdays protest came a day before the observance of World Indigenous Peoples Day.
The lumad said they would sustain their protests until XR Mining pulls out of their town.

APPENDIX 3

Leave the Lumad alone!

The issue is about control of natural resources and ancestral domain. Before it was about logging. Now
it's mining.

Dean Tony La Via

Published 12:08 PM, September 14, 2015
Updated 5:14 PM, November 10, 2015

I write this with rage and grief, and also with guilt. This is not a rant but a call for action based on
shared responsibility. But because that action is urgently needed, it is written without my usual
diplomatic and dispassionate filters.
I will speak truth to power, even at the risk of angering some colleagues and groups. But I will be fair
and constructive and suggest concrete steps that can stop the Lumad killings in Surigao del Sur and
address the roots of these recent events.
This must be done before it spreads any further. This militarization started in Bukidnon and Davao del
Norte and now has jumped to Surigao. Its anyone guess where this goes next but it wont stop unless
drastic measures are taken.
Above all, if we want these atrocities to stop, we must leave the Lumad alone allow them to
independently make decisions about their ancestral domains, their natural resources, their educational
system (including the choice of their teachers), and other matters critical to them. We must
completely respect their right to free and prior informed consent starting with entering their
territory.
Both the military and the New Peoples Army (NPA) must pull out of their areas, all of which must be
demilitarized and declared peace zones. All economic activities by outsiders, including mining
operations, must be stopped and all applications frozen in those areas so the conflict does not expand
further. This should be done immediately in the affected areas and if necessary through all Lumad
areas of Mindanao.

Why should we care about the Lumad?

Lumad is a collective term, meaning homegrown or indigenous, used to refer to 15-18 ethno-linguistic
groups in Mindanao. Among those usually included as Lumad are the Subanen, Blaan, Mandaya,
Higaonon, Banwaon, Talaandig, Ubo, Manobo, Tboli, Tiruray, Bagobo,Tagakaolo, Dibabawon,
Manguangan, and Mansaka. It should be noted that from these groups there are hundreds and even
thousands of sub-groupings that are independent or at best loosely related to each other even when
there are many linguistic and cultural similarities among them.
Why should we care about the Lumad? We must be concerned because they are among the poorest and
marginalized in our society.
The Lumad are also among the most peaceful and gentle, and therefore the most vulnerable. When
provoked however, like their counterparts in Luzon and the Visayas, the Lumad fight back as they have
done with the Spanish and American colonizers and the national government in the more recent past.
Because many of the islands natural resources, especially minerals, are in Lumad territory, they are
frequently attacked and their ancestral domains encroached upon by outsiders. Such development
aggression in turn becomes the breeding ground of the national democratic revolution and the
communist insurgency.
There will be no peace in Mindanao and in the Philippines if the rights of the Lumad are ignored and
disregarded. Even the successful establishment of the Bangsamoro will not lead to peace without the
full inclusion of the Lumad.
What is happening to the Lumad?
Last September 1, 2015, Lumad educator Emerito Samarca, executive director of the Alternative
Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development, a school recognized for its innovative and
effective way of teaching, was found in a room in the school, with hands and feet bound, throat slit. As
reported by interAksyon.com, TV 5s news website, on that same day, two Lumad leaders Dionel
Campos and Datu Juvillo Sinzo were also executed, in front of hundreds of children and residents in
Han-ayan, Lianga, Surigao del Sur. It is alleged that the educator and leaders were killed by a tribal
paramilitary force formed and organized by the military to fight the NPA.
As a result of the September 1 killings, more than 3,000 Lumad refugees are now in Tandag, capital
town of Surigao del Sur.
In a strongly worded editorial, interaksyon.com describes Surigao del Sur Governor Johnny Pimentel as
not mincing words about whom he blames: He has had the balls to speak not only about how and by
whom all of this nightmare started, he has a pretty good idea how it can all be put to a just and

satisfying end. Pimentel says the militias and their military handlers should be prosecuted even killed
if necessary.
This is not the first time that Lumad in Mindanao has been attacked and their leaders killed in the
name of the fight against communist rebels.
Just a few months ago, hundreds of Lumad from Bukidnon and Davao del Norte evacuated to Davao City
to flee from military operations in their ancestral domains. There was a charge that the evacuees in
Davao City had been kidnapped by militants. But in a dramatic confrontation with Representative
Nancy Catamco, Chairperson of the committee on indigenous peoples of the House Of Representatives,
it was established by the Davao City government that the Lumad had in fact sought refuge as their
supporters have claimed. Mayor Rody Duterte himself affirmed this and backed the Lumad refugees
against Catamcos claim that they were not in Davao out of their own free will. This was later affirmed
by United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons Chaloka
Beyan who denied the military claim that the Lumad in Davao City had been trafficked.
To be fair, the military has said it welcomes any probe, with the Manila Standard quoting Brig. Gen.
Joselito Kakilala, Commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS)
as promising: We will cooperate and support any official investigation. Killings of defenseless civilian
is outside of the military parameter. We do not condone these atrocities. In the same report, AFP
spokesman Restituto Padilla also denied the hand of the military in the killings. Padilla is quoted as
saying: The AFP is also doing its own internal investigation to ascertain if AFP actions were appropriate
relative to this unfortunate event. The spokesman assured the public that the military had the
interest of the Lumad and respect for their culture foremost in their minds.
In contrast to these assurances of the military are the poignant words of Michelle Campos, daughter of
one of the slain Lumad leaders. Inday Espina-Varona, in an article on ABS-CBNnews.com quotes her as
saying: "My message to the government, especially our honorable President is, stop your Oplan
Bayanihan that supposedly leads to peace and progress. Because the reality is, it has never brought
peace or progress. You say it will bring peace to the lumad. Yes, it is true peace could come to our
community because by then the paramilitary would have killed us all. And once all lumad who defend
their ancestral lands have been killed, the capitalists will enjoy progress because they will be able to
mine our lands."
The big picture: the elephants in the room

I have worked in many Lumad areas for 30 years as an environmental and human rights lawyer and
know the dynamics very well. There are two elephants in the room here at a superficial level, the
communist insurgency and the national democratic revolution which finds the Lumad squeezed

between the military and the New Peoples Army; at a deeper level, this is about control over natural
resources, especially the minerals, that are abundant in Lumad territory.
The truth is that this is not even principally about the insurgency even if both sides are using the
Lumad for propaganda. As I mentioned to Carmela Fonbuena in an article she wrote for Rappler on this
issue, it's about control of natural resources and ancestral domain. Before it was about logging. Now it's
mining.
I know that because when I was environmental undersecretary in the 1990s I had to mediate many
conflicts in the area and at the bottom of it, it was because military and paramilitary forces were used
to expel the Lumad from their domains and the NPA came in to take advantage of the situation by
becoming the protectors of the Lumad and get their support for the national democratic struggle. That
in turn became the excuse to implement programs like Oplan Bayanihan that divides the Lumad and pit
them against each other.
It is a lie and a falsehood to lay the blame on the killings on the NPAs or even on internal conflicts as is
now being circulated by propagandists. This red-baiting assures you that the season of killing will
continue; this is the kind of propaganda which will get even more Lumad killed. Indeed, this is a go
signal for that. It is immoral, downright evil, for propagandists and other people to trumpet this line.
And it is especially sad that some peace workers are mouthing this.
At the same time, it must be also said as forcefully that the presence of the NPA has made the Lumad
more vulnerable and has worsened their situation. Knowing personally many military officials, as
colleagues and as students, I cannot imagine them tolerating serious human rights violations. But things
happen, as they say, in the fog of war when our solders are faced with an enemy that knows how to
disappear into the masses. I suppose that this is the same feeling of tribal militiamen they too are
afraid and so strike at whoever they believe threaten them.

Sadly, if in fact this is about the control of natural resources and ancestral domains, then the military,
tribal militia, the Lumad communities, and the NPA are just pawns to drive the people away from their
territory.
What needs to be done
The first thing to be done, as already pointed out, is to demilitarize the area and for peace zones to be
declared in all affected Lumad areas. The military and the NPA must withdraw immediately. The tribal
militia in Surigao del Sur and elsewhere must be disarmed. Those who killed the Lumad educators and
leaders should be arrested, charged, and held accountable for the murders they committed.

An international investigation must be conducted in parallel with a Commission on Human Rights (CHR)
investigation. This is necessary not only to determine the facts of the killings and aid in the prosecution
also to identify the root causes of the conflict within Lumad territory. I fully trust the new Chairman of
the CHR but it would work best if he put together a mission composed of credible and independent
individuals that will take on the task of investigation.
I strongly suggest that the government invite UN Rapporteur for the rights of indigenous peoples Vicky
Tauli-Corpuz to visit the affected areas and report on what she sees and make the appropriate
recommendations. Vicky knows the Philippines very well, being a Filipina herself, and she is
experienced in doing these investigations. Having worked with Vicky for decades on international and
national indigenous peoples concerns, she has no ideological agenda in what is happening and will be
guided only by the best interest of the Lumad.
If needed, human rights groups might consider filing a petition for a writ of amparo, requesting the
Supreme Court to order the military and tribal militia from entering and having a presence in Lumad
territory.
In the meantime, religious leaders must band with political leaders to make sure that no further
killings happen. Already this is happening with the National Council of Churches in the Philippines and
the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines standing strongly with the Lumad. I suggest that
high-profile delegations of these Churches and religious organizations be sent to the affected areas and
accompany the Lumad back to their homes and stay with them until their safety is totally secure.
Political leaders have also begun speaking out with Vice President Jejomar Binay, and Senators Grace
Poe and Loren Legarda taking the lead. It would be good if we could hear our Mindanao senators TG
Guingona and Koko Pimentel speak out on this as well. The Representatives from the Agusan and
Surigao provinces, or perhaps all districts where there are Lumad, might also want to do this.
Government agencies like the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) must come in and do their job. The NCIP must ensure
certifications of Free and Prior Informed Consent have been correctly given and the proper Certificates
of Ancestral Domains have been issued. The DENR must make an inventory of natural resource and
mining permits and agreements and make sure they are not exacerbating the situation. In fact, as I
pointed out at the beginning of this article, such permits and agreements (and applications for them)
must be put on hold to make sure they are not the reason of the conflict.
The Department of Education has a special role in addressing this problem. As the interaskyon.com
editorial pointed out: Educated lumad like Samarca are looked upon as dangerous. They are tagged as
rebel coddlers just because of the accident of birthrights and geography, (i.e., rebel camps are near
their villages) - if not as communists themselves because, you know, they demand rights, schooling,

support, concern for their environment, good governance and responsible practices from extractive
industries.
The sad part is that DEPED has been complicit in what is happening to the Lumad. Knowing the good
people that are leading the department, I am sure that this was unintentional. How could any of them
imagine that the closure of several Lumad schools earlier this year would lead to the evacuations in
Bukidnon and Davao del Norte? How could a department circular allowing military and militiamen to set
up camps within public schools in Lumad areas lead to the killing of the wonderful and great educator
Emerito Samarca? But these are the unintended consequences when redbaiting propaganda is accepted
without question. People die as a result when that happens.
My hope now is that DEPED Secretary Armin Luistro will prioritize this and take the necessary steps so
further killings of educators do not happen. Among others, I respectfully suggest that the good
secretary reach out to the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, fellow religious and church workers
who know most about what is happening to the Lumad. I have known of the work of the Rural
Missionaries for decades. They have been consistent in their service to Church and people. Long before
Jorge Bergoglio became Pope Francis, the Rural Missionaries have been immersed in the peripheries.
At the beginning of this article, I said I write this with rage, grief and guilt. I am angry because of the
terrible injustice that is being done to these wonderful peoples we collectively call Lumad. I am filled
with sorrow because the people that have been killed are the best of their peoples, the leaders and
educators.
And I feel guilty because I did not act quickly enough. I am ashamed of myself for ignoring the signs,
for using ideological and not human rights lens when this attack on the Lumad became evident.
But today, I put aside my guilt and shame aside and say: I stand by the Lumad. Today, this Filipino and
this Mindanawon say: I am Lumad. Lets all be. Rappler.com

References

1. Manlupig, K. (2015). Timeline: Attacks on the Lumad of Mindanao. The Rappler. Retrieved
from
http://www.rappler.com/nation/105847-timeline-attacks-lumad-mindanao

2. Lagsa, B. (2015). Guingona takes police, military to ask: Lumads killer roam free. The
Rappler. Retrieved from
http://www.rappler.com/nation/107904-guingona-lumad-killing-arrest-suspects

3. Arcon, D. (2014). Lumad protest mining in Sultan Kudarat. Interaksyon. Retrieved from
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/92872/lumad-protest-mining-in-sultan-kudarat

4. La Via, D. T. (2015). Leave the Lumad alone!. The Rappler. Retrieved from
http://www.rappler.com/thought-leaders/105806-leave-lumad-alone