Malago Clubhouse, Malacañang Park
November 8, 2018

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte sat down and talked with the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Council of Elders to address concerns on several fronts including the safety, legal affairs, and welfare of the indigenous peoples (IP) of Mindanao.

The meeting took place at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in Malacañang Park where the Chief Executive formally received the four (4) resolutions made by the IP from different tribes of Mindanao.

The four (4) resolutions that were presented underscored the gratitude towards President Duterte’s unwavering support for the welfare and development of Mindanao’s IP, the expression of conformity towards the proclamation of Martial Law in Mindanao, the request for a special quota in the Philippine Army (PA) for Mindanao’s IP, and the filing of appropriate cases against the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and Jose Maria Sison.

Mindanao has the largest indigenous group in the Philippines — Lumads — the adopted name for the collective identity of Mindanao’s IP.

Throughout the years, the Lumads have become subject to numerous persecution and human rights violation committed by the CPP-NPA-NDF rebels.

Several key officials attended the meeting including National Security Council (NSC) Secretary Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Carlito Galvez, Jr., Department of National Defense (DND) Undersecretary Ricardo David, Jr., and Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Oscar Albayalde.

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