Several leaders of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) expressed their grief towards the cancellation of the peace process between the Government and the reds, since they are hoping for a ceasefire, primarily for peace and safety of their people.
Representative and member of the Supreme Council Timuay Justice and governance, Alim Bandara said, that whenever the armed conflicts between the military and the rebels occur in their ancestral lands, the IP communities are also intensely affected.
Thus, IP leaders are calling out for the establishment of a peace sanctuary.
“There were discussions before na susubukan gagawin ng mga katutubo lalapit sila sa OPAPP halimbawa and then itong IP peace panel i-present yung conept para kung magka giyera man at least may mga areas na puwedeng safekeeping ng IP communities, dun sila atleast ma-secure.” Bandara said.
Bandara explained that the IPs are continuously talking with the Local Government Units and the afp-pnp to establish their cooperation and hopefully provide this peace sanctuary within their ancestral domains despite the alleged “infiltrations” of some armed groups in their communities.
“Alam namn natin, sa media sabi nila is 75 percent sa forces of NPA are coing from lumads. So kakausapin ng mga lumad leaders kasi kilala man nila yung mga NPA dyan na pwede silang magusap on their own, outside muna yung tungalian between the state pwede magtrigger ito later magkaroon ng malaking role ang IPs pano ipush through itong usapan ng pangkapayaan kasi ang tinatamaan ng bawat conflict is yung lumad communities sa ngayon.” Bandara added.
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza said on the other hand that, the peace zones are actually not through the initiative of the local government.
“peace sanctuaries are initiated by themselves by the lumads and then they see to it that they will find the mechanisms to make it work in their own indigenous way.” Dureza said.
The IP leaders remain positive and eager in being the key to settle the current conflicts in their core area and expressed their willingness to cooperate with suggested mechanisms that would result to a lasting peace.
