BUTUAN CITY -- Around 2,000 Indigenous People (IP) and Moro representatives from different parts of Mindanao converged in Tacloban City, Leyte on Sunday, October 9, for the annual people’s caravan from Mindanao to Manila dubbed as the Journey of the National Minorities for Self Determination and Justice.
“We are now in Tacloban City and we will cross the San Juanico Bridge towards Samar at around 3:00 this afternoon. We left Cagayan de Oro City yesterday (October 8) at around 9:00 in the morning; by 10:00 in the evening we crossed the port of Lipata in Surigao City.” said Rochamae Bihag, College Editors Guild of the Philippines vice president for Mindanao.
Bihag said the activity aimed to reiterate IP’s demands to President Rodrigo Duterte.
“This Lakbayan is actually an annual event since 2012, which hopes to bring the message and plights of the IP and moro people to the national consciousness and to our president,” she said.
Eliza Pangilinan of the group Karapatan Caraga said the caravan is still waiting for other groups from Mindanao to arrive.
As of Sunday, there were 344 IP’s from Mamanwa and Manobo tribe in Caraga arrived in Tacloban City and other groups from Southern Mindanao and Soccsksargen are expected to arrive on October 10.
“We will then march about 3-kilometers across the San Juanico Bridge and then from there, travel to Luzon and arrive in Laguna by October 12,” said Pangilinan
According to a statement from the group in Caraga, Kasalo Caraga; the annual event aimed to bring the voice of the IP’s and Moro to the national consciousness and to President Rodrigo Duterte.
“We aim to fight against militarization and the plunder of our ancestral lands. We also want to bring the issue on the attacks on our IP schools and villages and against foreign intervention and uphold national sovereignty. We hope that all of this will be brought to the attention of our president and the hopes of our IP and moro for self determination and lasting peace on their lands,” said Josephine Pagalan of Kasalo Caraga.
Pagalan stated they would also bring the question of the promises made by the president.
“We will ask our president regarding the promises made during his SONA as well as the demand for justice for our IP’s and moro who have been affected by para military groups and the hopes of bringing those responsible for the lumad killings to jail and justice be served to those who suffered the atrocities,” said Pagalan.
Datu Jimboy Mandagit of the Tigwahanon tribe from San Fernando town in Bukidnon revealed that there were around 300 IP’s and 25 moro representatives from Northern Mindanao.
“We have IP’s and Moro from the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Lanao and Bukidnon, united in bringing our voices to the president Duterte,” Mandagit said.
Mandagit said the group was particularly concerned about the coming of mining operations in San Fernando, Bukidnon as well as the massive expansion of pineapple and palm oil plantation in Bukidnon and in Misamis Oriental.
“The unresolved killing of our lumads from para military groups like the Alamara should be given concern and that this armed groups should be disbanded and held accountable for the injustice they have brought to the people in the area,” Mandagit added.
The group is expected to arrive in Manila on October 13, and will take part in a series of activities towards October 21.