President Rodrigo Duterte warned Lumads would soon become an “extinct tribe” if their group members would continue to join the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army and fight the government.
Duterte made the remark following the death of Jevilyn Cullamat, a lumad and a daughter of Bayan Muna Representative Eufemia Cuillamat. The young Cullamat was killed in an encounter with the government forces in Surigao Del Sur on Sunday.
Reports said Jevilyn served as NPA’s medic and allegedly belonged to the Communist NPA Terrorist’s Sandatahang Yuniy Pampropaganda Platoon of the Guerilla Front 19, Northeastern Regional Committee (NEMRC).
“If this thing goes on, the Lumads yung native na Pilipino talaga will become an extinct tribe, pag hindi kayo huminto dyan, lumayas, forever kayong wanted,” Duterte said.
“Hindi ka na makababa at kung ma-timing-an ka, sabi nga ni Parlade sa Armed Forces, delikado kayo, mamatay kayo, sama-sama kayo dyan,” he added.
Duterte thus urged Lumads, who had joined the NPA, to surrender and go home.
“Kita nyo yung kay Cullamat, anak nya mismo, babae pa, sigurado patay yan, babae ilaban mo sa sundalo, patay sigurado,” Duterte said.
Duterte to Lumads: You will become an ‘extinct tribe’
Bayan Muna Representative Eufemia Campos Cullamat said her daughter has fought against the “abuses” of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) against the lumads and other ethnolinguistic groups.
“Di ako nagtataka kung sumapi sa NPA ang aking anak dahil sa patuloy na nararanasan naming mga katutubo sa mga pagmamalupit at pang-aabuso ng AFP at ng kanilang mga paramilitary groups. Naranasan mismo ito ng aming pamilya… Si Jevilyn ay nasa wastong gulang na at kaya niyang magdesisyon para sa kaniyang sarili,” she said.
“Naniniwala ako na makatwiran ang kaniyang ipinaglalaban pero ibang porma ang kanyang pinili para mapigilan ang pambubusabos sa aming mga lumad at katutubo at para magkaroon din ng makaturangang lipunan,” Cullamat said.
In April, Duterte threatened he would try to “finish all” CPP-NPA rebels within the remaining two years of his term.
“Ang utos ko sa kanila, ‘Patayin kayo? O di patayin ninyo sila.’ Lahat na. Tapusin na natin ito sa panahon ko. I have two more years. I will try to finish all of you,” he said.
