AFP chief insists Lumad schools used as NPA breeding ground

By Priam Nepomuceno/PNA

MANILA — Outgoing Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff, Gen. Carlito Galvez said the Salugpungan Community Learning Center and ALCADEV Lumad School are being used as breeding grounds of the New People’s Army (NPA).

This was emphasized by the military chief in an interview with reporters shortly after flag-raising ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Monday.

“What we saw in Talaingod (Davao del Norte) is how Salugpungan and ALCADEV are used as breeding ground for the NPA. What they (former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo et al.) do is they bring the children here in Manila, an exposure. The five who surrendered in the north came from ALCADEV and from indigenous communities and this only proves that ACT-Teacher Partylist Rep. France Castro and Satur Ocampo as active members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), ” he said.

Galvez also said this claim is already attested by Lumad leaders.

“So ngayon, nakikita natin ang last bastion na lang ng CPP-NPA is yung IPs kasi yung mga Indigenous People ito na lang ang pinaka-vulnerable sector na kaya nilang lokohin (Now, we see that the last bastion of the CPP-NPA is the IPs because the Indigenous People are the most vulnerable sector whom they can deceive),” he added.

Ocampo, Castro and several others were accused of violating Republic Act 10364 or The Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 and Article 270 of the Revised Penal Code which defines and provides penalty on the offense of kidnapping and failure to return a minor.

Ocampo and Castro claimed they are part of a humanitarian mission in Talaingod, Davao del Norte due to reports that students of these Lumad schools were fleeing the area following their closure.

Popular

First Couple graces ‘Thrilla in Manila’ 2

By Brian Campued Underscoring the administration’s commitment to supporting sports development and inspiring the next generation of Filipino athletes, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and...

Corruption issues won’t affect PH chairship of ASEAN 2026 —PBBM

By Brian Campued President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday stressed that local political issues of any member state will not overshadow the regional and...

PH to raise South China Sea Code of Conduct as 2026 ASEAN chair —PBBM

By Brian Campued The Philippines is in the process of putting together the different elements where it believes the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)...

ASEAN, China sign free trade upgrade

By Brian Campued President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday joined fellow leaders at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the signing of...