A lumad group of indigenous persons on Friday stood their ground in the face of recent threats by President Rodrigo Duterte that he would order the bombing of lumad schools on the grounds that these schools are being used to spread communism and revolutionary thought.
They denied that they are under the control or being manipulated by the communist rebel movement.
“You are operating illegally and you are teaching the children to rebel against government,” President Duterte had claimed.
Some lumad families have already vacated their homes in villages around Surigao del Sur in the face of tension arising from the presence of military elements.
At least two lumad communities in the Caraga Region have already evacuated for fear of the possible consequences if the bombardment threat is carried out.
During a visit to Guinhulngan City, Duterte repeated the threat, saying the children are growing up hating the government.
But the Save Our Schools Network clarifies that the lumad schools are duly recognized by government instrumentalities, such as the Department of Education and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Already, at least 28 lumad schools out of an estimated more than 200, have shut down since hostilities broke out in Marawi City that prompted President Duterte to declared martial law covering the entire Mindanao.
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