REAL BACKGROUND OF THE TRIBAL WAR (LUMAD VS. LUMAD-CPP/NPA) AGUSAN DEL SUR & SURIGAO DEL SUR

In the year 1994 at Lianga Bay, Tribal leaders (Datus) were called by the CPP/NPA leaders namely: Ka Isko, Father Frank Navarro and Maria Malaya aimed to discuss “Lumpong” or “Magdeal-lay Agreement”.

This agreement was between the Tribal Leaders and the CPP/NPA leaders giving the right of the Lumads Leaders (Datu) to negotiate to the investors and/or contractors of logs, falcata trees and other business opportunities.

Magdeal-lay Agreement was favorable to lumads. Leaders present during the meeting were: 1. Datu Paday Belandres 2. Agu Belandres 3. Pedro Tejero 4. Banaw Bocales 5. Lasoy Sarsona (deceased) 6. Emiliano Sarsona 7. Bubod Arbiso 8. Kumanda 9. Alping 10. Datu Busoy 11. Datu Undaw Enriquez 12. Datu Humboy 13. Datu Alab Flores 14. Odug Duhak 15. Bobito Layno (deceased) 16. Junior Belandres 17. Sanidon Enriquez 18. Mariano Bocales 19. Mayduk Abisido 20. Datu Sibugan (Marcial Belandres).

In the year 2004, “Malanday Agreement” was created. The rights given to the Tribal Leaders was retracted. The CPP/NPA leaders realized that if the Lumads will continue to enjoy being negotiating panel to the investors, they would not be able to stay in the CPP/NPA group. The Lumads gradually learned to make a living.

This was the reason why CPP/NPA broke the first made “Magdea-lay” agreement and changed it into a new “Malanday Agreement” which was unfavorable to the Lumads. In Malanday Agreement, Lumads could no longer participate in business transactions.

Personalities Involved at Malanday Agreement: CPP/NPA: Isko, Ado, Joy, Dalay and Dito Tribal Leaders (Datus): Ombid, Landoni, Gloria, Permia, Badoy, Indong, Biboy, Jepoy Enriquez and Bibot Enriquez.

This was the start of the conflict between Lumads and CPP/NPA. The said communist group started to attack lumads and lots of killings happened. Any lumad that would not obey the CPP/NPA rules would get killed. When “Malanday Agreement” was being implemented by the CPP/NPA, lumad leaders were being killed by CPP/NPA because they reacted against the new policy.

Names of Lumads who reacted against the CPP/NPA: Junel Senso, Detil Tejero, Oliboy, Wardo Albiso, Orso Tejero, Nestor Igwa, Teteng, Ollon Perez, Agsab Asibido, Pukot Asibido, Junie Asibido and Tolyo Tejero.

In the year 2010, CPP/NPA again killed Lumad leaders. Secretly Lumads gradually created plans on how to beat CPP/NPA. Gradually as well, they step down from the said communist group but still there are thousands that are in the custody of the communist group.

The Tribal Leaders called the attention of the CPP/NPA Leaders: Ka-Ores, Ka-Maria Malaya, Ka-Isko and Ka-Ado. They asked the CPP/NPA leaders to give back their rights to their own lands especially to the areas of Datu Magtatambag Tikyo Bocales, Datu Sibugan (Marcial Belandres), Datu Dangpanan, Datu Nahikyad (Marcos Vucales), Datu Calpit Igwa Asusan, Datu Martin Asabido, Datu Dagsub Perez and Datu Sinakuyan Romeo.

The Lumad Leaders warned the CPP/NPA to hear and respond to their request, otherwise bloody war will happen to the communities controlled and manipulated by the armed communist group (CPP/NPA).

On August 15, 2012, Lumad Leaders/Datus of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur held a meeting, joined together and agreed for ONE BIG GOAL to dismantle the CPP/NPA in CARAGA Region for them to be able to return to their homeland in peace. They wanted to oust or throw out CPP/NPA in the mountains which is the land of the Lumads/Manobos.

According to them, Ka Ado and Ka Isko are the leaders of CPP/NPA who victimized the Lumads. They all agreed to declare RIDO vs. NPA-Lumads as continuous killings of their relatives is not being stopped since 2004. Leaders declared that 60 Lumads more or less were already killed since 2004 up to present and still counting.

Surigao del Sur Lumad Leaders/Datus who attended the meeting were: 1. Datu Taloc Vucales 2. Datu Tenong Vucales 3. Datu Pedro Tejero 4. Datu Marcial Belandres 5. Datu Marcos Vucales Agusan del Sur Lumad Leaders/Datus who attended the meeting 1. Datu Wako Tejero 2. Datu Emie Peres 3. Datu Bogoy Asevido 4. Datu Maximo Peres 5. Datu Maning Egua 6. Datu Jonjon Peres 7. Datu Osting Peres 8. Datu Romeo Banusay 9. Datu Martin Asevido.

The meeting was lead by their respected and declared No. 1 Datu, Datu Calpit Igwa. On July 15, 2014, Rido was triggered between the two parties when armed CPP/NPAs attacked Datu Calpit's area at Sta. Irene, Agusan del Sur. Again, this was known news, documented and covered by the local media. It was also exposed by the lumads that before July 15, 2014 encounter, CPP/NPA already made series of harassments and attacks to Datu Calpit.

On October 8, 2014. Magahat Force was organized as group of Lumads that are against the CPP/NPA. On March, 2015, Magahat Force and other Lumad tribes scattered a communication/letter along the Highway in Lianga and Barobo areas in Surigao del Sur, expressing their extreme madness to the CPP/NPA and calling lumads’ attention and encouraging them to step down from the communist group.

The Lumad Leaders held series of meetings regarding their preparation for war against the CPP/NPA. Sometime as well on March 2015, they held thanksgiving, prayers and held rituals as sort of blessing on their firearms and medicinal oils to be used in approaching battle against CPP/NPA.

Sometime on April, 2015, Lumads also called the attention of fellow lumads/Manobo Tribe thru media and asked them to step down from the Communist Group and asked them to join the fight of Lumads to achieve their ultimate dream, to return to their respective lands and will finally live in peace without manipulation and control of the armed CPP/NPA.

On May 10, 2015 again Magahat Force and Lumad Leaders of the entire Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur voiced out loud their declaration of war against the CPP/NPA and asked the government to support them VICTIMS of the said communist group. This was aired thru local media coverage in Barobo, Surigao del Sur mountains, all aiming to be heard and acted upon by the government.

It was only on May 10, 2015 after the airing of the news about the declaration of war when the LGU, PNP and military learned about the matter. LGU, PNP and AFP made efforts to resolve the CPP/NPA-Lumad issues.

As a result of the said efforts, 42 (forty two) formers rebels surrendered and they were presented on August 24 and 25, 2015 Peace Caravan held at Lianga, Surigao del Sur. At present, more armed rebels are encouraged to surrender after witnessing the Peace Caravan.

The leaders of the communist CPP-NPA-NDF in CARAGA Region should bring-out themselves to open discussion for peace. Manobos called them “Tampudah” which deeply means that all of them lumads organize by their Datus, including the Datus that connived with the CPP-NPA-NDF, will make an agreement that they will resolve their issues and settle their conflicts and they will go back to zero as if nothing happens, so all lumads could return to their respective lands, make their own living and continue to live in peace without any control and manipulations of the CPP-NPA-NDF.

“Tampudah” should also be witnessed by the government thru the military, PNP or any other agency which concerns PEACE. According to the lumad leaders, “tampudah” can only be achieved if the following Datus under manipulation of CPP-NPA-NDF will be present for negotiations:

1. Datu Ombid Sinzo Area in Km. 16, Diatagon, Lianga,
2. Datu Gloria Tumalon Area in Km. 16, Diatagon, Lianga,
3. Datu Jepoy Area in Km. 9, Diatagon, Lianga,
4. Datu Landoni Tumalon Area in Km. 16, Diatagon, Lianga,
5. Datu Pemia Tumalon Area in Tiwagan, Brgy, San isidro, Lianga,
6. Datu Efren Belandres (Ago) Area in Panukmoan, Diatagon, Lianga,
7. Datu Ontong Belandres Area in Brgy. Bulhuon, Tambunon, San Miguel, (Yudong Group) Brgy. Magruyong (lumpong-balangay),
8. Datu Rebok Vucales, and
9. Datu Talok Vucales.

These 9 Datus are the Lumad Leaders of the CPP/NPA in CARAGA aside from their higher leaders who are not Manobos but just long been manipulating the poor Lumad victims.

The following NPA leaders are asked by the anti-NPA lumads to be ejected from Caraga since they are the root cause of conflicts among the lumads:
1. Ka Ores
2. Ka Mariang Malaya
3. Ka Ado
4. Ka Isko

CONNECTION OF ALCADEV SCHOOL TO CPP/NPA

ALCADEV or the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural Livelihood Development is located at Km. 16, Brgy. Hanyaan, Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur.

ALCADEV is the educational front of CPP/NPA. Children are taught academically from Mondays-Fridays but Saturdays and Sundays are tactical trainings for firearms and combats. The students are brainwashed to extremely hate the Philippine government. When they finish training at the ALCADEV, they will be prepared to be soon members of CPP/NPA. 

This was revealed by former rebel (CPP/NPA) Marcial Belandres (Datu Sibugan) who had been in the armed communist group for 25 years.

Approximately three (3) kilometers from Alcadev school is a wide training ground called Marlboro with an area of more or less than 20 hectares, and seven kilometers away from ALCADEV is a wider training ground called Kabuluhan covering around 30 hectares. It is a ground for combats and firing where Alcadev students where being trained. The said school is funded by foreign country and money is used for CPP/NPA operations and propagandas aside from the school learning and activities, Marcial Belandres bared.

ALCADEV students would not sing the Philippine National Anthem. ALCADEV students sung the Anthem of CPP/NPA entitled Bangon (Internationale), which encourage revolt against the government, “Bangon sa Pagkalinupigan” that means raise from abuse/maltreatment/oppression. “When I was there, We were also singing the following songs: 1. Berdugong Kasundalohan 2. Pasistang Militar sa Pang-gamhanan 3. Tulo ka Amigo (Milisia, Sparrow, Hukbo) The lyrics of the above songs are all against the government and military,” revealed by the newly-surrendered former CPP/NPA Commander Marcial Belandres.