Politician declared ‘persona non grata’ for calling indigenous people “stinky”

A group of lumads (indigenous people) from North Cotabato have declared Cotabato Representative Nancy Catamco “persona non grata” for her part when she first called the lumads in Davao City “stinky” and for her part in holding the lumads against their will after they sought refuge in the compound in Davao.

The group also said that Catamco insinuated that the lumads were just out to make money for their refusal to return to their ancestral homes.

Catamco was also accused of telling others that the lumads were being held hostage – she tagged several lumad leaders for their part in asking for money to feed the group as they held out in the Haran compound in Davao.

Officials overseeing the lumads say that many have returned to their homes but at least 1,200 others have stayed due to ongoing conflicts in their area.

One of the leaders said “Contrary to Catamco’s allegations, there was no hostage taking. There was no kidnapping at the UCCP Haran. These lumads left their homes because of security reasons,”