By Raymund Antonio
Otso Diretso senatorial candidate Chel Diokno called for stronger protection for lumads, eyeing for a review of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) if elected to the Senate.
Otso Diretso senatorial candidate and human rights lawyer Chel Diokno (RIO LEONELLE DELUVIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Iyong IPRA law, siguro panahon na rin na balikan natin yon at tingnan natin kung ano pa ang magagawa natin para mapalakas pa lalo ang proteksyon at ang mga karapatan ng mga indigenous peoples natin,” Diokno said.
(It's about time for the IPRA law to be reviewed and we will look into how we can further strengthen the protection of the rights and welfare of our indigenous peoples.)
Diokno, a human rights lawyer, spoke at a recent forum held in Butuan, which was mostly attended by lumads.
“Iyong mga issue ng mga lumad, naka-sentro yan unang-una sa lupain, sa mga problema sa kanilang lupain, ‘yung pagpapasok ng mga nagmimina at iba’t ibang mga kumpanya sa mga IP land,” he explained.
(The issues of lumads are centered, first, on their lands, with miners and different companies occupying IP lands.)
The opposition senatorial bet added that indigenous communities also get caught in the crossfire between armed rebels and the government.
“Naiipit sila sa away ng kaliwa at ng pamahalaan. At kung minsan, sila ay nare-red tag din na wala naman talagang sabihin nating ebidensiya o batayan,” he said.
(They get caught in the fight between the left and the government. And sometimes, they were subjected to red-tagging without any evidence or basis.)
“Iyong mga nakausap kong mga lumad ay pati yung mga eskwelahan nila ay natatamaan, inaatake, na sinasabi daw mga NPA , pero sa aking paniwala at sa pagsusuri namin ay hindi naman po ganoon,” he recalled.
(The lumads, whom I talked to, their schools were hit and attacked allegedly by NPA, but I believe and based on our evaluation, that’s not the case.)
The veteran human rights lawyer also noted that lumads continue to be affected by the martial law extension in Mindanao.
Diokno, chairman of the Free Legal Assistance Group, represented the lumads in the petition they filed before the Supreme Court last January against the third extension of martial law.
“Ang naging kliyente ko ay mga lumad, kasi sila nga ang mga napeperwisyo dito sa pag-extend ng martial law dahil sa napakataas na militarisasyon sa kanilang mga area,” he said.
(My clients were the lumads because they were the ones affected by martial law extension due to the increased militarization in their area.)