ASIDE FROM the issue of heavy traffic on Edsa and other main roads in Metro Manila, another hot issue going the rounds in cyberspace and mass media is the killing of several members of indigenous tribes. Left-leaning organizations are laying the responsibility for the killings—specifically, of three indigenous people in Lianga, Surigao del Sur—on the military, without concrete evidence.
The military has nothing to do with their death. For years now, elements of the New People’s Army have been killing innocent civilians—357 lumad, in fact, since 1998. But Karapatan has been silent on this.
In 2009, for example, NPA rebels ambushed and killed Fernando Timbal, a driver employed by a bank, when they mistook him for a soldier. The NPA admitted the crime. Still, Karapatan blamed the military for his death.
In trying to deceive the public and destroy the image of the military and government, Karapatan lies to the public, and even issues contradictory statements. Its leaders and spokespersons say they are “fighting for the rights of the masses,” yet they have been killing without remorse hundreds of innocent civilians, including IPs.
Where are the loud members of Karapatan when soldiers and policemen on mercy missions are killed? They are not helping solve human rights issues, they are instead worsening the situation.
I was once recruited by a left-leaning organization in my university. So, I know how such groups operate. They made me believe that rallying against the government was the right thing to do, and that the only way we can fight for our rights is through antigovernment rallies and deceitful messages.
But I have since realized joining them was the worst decision I’ve ever made in my entire life, and leaving them was the best decision I’ve ever made to correct the mistakes of my past.
These groups are not fighting for our rights. They do not really care for our rights. They are just using us. Do not let them deceive us. They are “experts when it comes to lying and using people, especially the masses.”
—CRISELDA AMIRA O. ROQUE, cringcringroque@yahoo.com