‘Indoctrination in the guise of education’

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has accused former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo and his companions of conducting anti-government indowctrination on lumad children in the guise of regular education.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said that the group of Ocampo who were acting as teachers of lumad children were teaching their “students” a different version of the national anthem.

“They set up a school in the area where they teach lumad children something that are way different from what should be taught in schools,” said Albayalde.

Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales, director of the Southern Mindanao regional police, said no less than the parents of the children and the tribal leaders in Davao del Norte had confirmed the alleged indoctrination of the Ocampogroup.

“There were reports that the children were taught with false ideals at school, far from the mandates of the Department of Education. Also allegedly, these group are using the children to be with them to rally against the government,” said Morales.

The lumads have been at the center of the clash between the government and communist rebels in the eastern part of Mindanao. Both the government and the NPA have been trading accusations over the death of tribal leaders and other tribal members over the years.

Intelligence officials claim the lumad tribes in Davao and CARAGA regions have been the hotbed of rebel recruitment over the years–the reason why the NPA is strong in the eastern part of Mindanao.

Different story

As an anti-insurgency strategy in the past, some lumads were allegedly formed into paramilitary groups to fight recruitment and spread of communist insurgency in their ancestral lands.

This allegedly resulted in the death of lumad tribal leaders and some members over the years.

Ocampo, ACT partylist Rep France Castro and 16 others were charged in connection with the alleged abduction of lumad children on Thursday night in Davao del Norte.

The group of Ocampo was apprehended by police and military forces in a checkpoint. With them were lumad children, reportedly students of Salugpungan School in Talaingod town.

Ocampo’s group alleged that they saved the non-resident students of Salugpungan because they reportedly had nowhere to go after the school was ordered closed by the tribal leaders. Salugpungan school was ordered closed by the education department.

They were about to transfer the students to another location when they were intercepted.

But tribal leaders and some residents have a different story. They said Ocampo’s group took away the children without the consent of the parents.

Due process

Ocampo, Castro and 16 others are facing charges of child abuse, kidnapping and failure to return a minor. The Office the Provincial Prosecutor recommended an P80,000 bail for each of the 18 respondents.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo assured that Ocampo and the other accused will be accorded their right to due process.

“Mr. Ocampo, together with all the accused, have been given 10 days to file their respective counter affidavits to refute the allegations against them. Hence, due process is being accorded them,” he said.

"We advise Mr. Ocampo and his supporters to hold their horses. Rashly jumping into conclusions and engaging in propaganda war not only is unproductive but an attempt to resort to a trial by publicity against the government by those identified with the left,” Panelo said.

"The rule of law must always prevail in a democracy. There is no room for shortcuts that impair the legal processes. Let the constitutional processes proceed without fear or favor,” he added. (With a report from Genalyn D. Kabiling)