Ata-Manobo issues statement against Talaingod 13

TALAINGOD, DAVAO DEL NORTE – The Ata-Manobo Tribal Council of Elders and Indigenous Political Structure of Talaingod issued a statement on Tuesday, calling out what it described as the continued romanticization of the so-called “Talaingod 13,” a group convicted in July 2024 for violating child protection laws about a controversial 2018 incident involving Lumad children.

“We speak with one voice to defend our children, our community, and our dignity from exploitation and false narratives,” the council said.

The 13 individuals, including former Bayan Muna Representative Saturnino “Ka Satur” Ocampo, former ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, and several others, were found guilty of violating Section 10(a), Article VI of Republic Act No. 7610, also known as the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

The case stemmed from a November 2018 incident where the group, the court in its decision said, transported 14 Lumad children at night through remote terrain in Talaingod, without prior consent or coordination with local tribal leaders or families. The 18 accused claimed it was a solidarity and rescue mission for teachers and Lumad children, allegedly facing threats and harassment from paramilitary groups. The court decision also acquitted five United Church of Christ in the Philippines pastors who were charged.  

“They claim they rescued our children. But we ask—rescued from whom?” the council asked. “Our children were not rescued. They were used, exposed to danger, and removed without our knowledge or consent. That is exploitation dressed as solidarity.”

The council emphasized that the operation not only violated legal protocols but also trampled on Indigenous customs and decision-making authority. Citing the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act (RA 8371), the tribal leaders underscored their legal right to self-governance and Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) over matters involving their communities, particularly their children.

In the succeeding statements it released after the incident, the council said that the Salugpungan I schools served as a recruitment ground for the New People’s Army, claiming that some of their own relatives were indoctrinated with communist ideology while enrolled and were later lured into the armed struggle.

Mass actions supporting the tribal council’s 2019 demand to shut down the Salugpungan Ta' Tanu Igkanugon Learning Center schools featured placards with messages like “Education, Not Rebellion for our tribe and people.” /PIA

“We welcome education, but it must be free from indoctrination. We welcome support, but it must be built on mutual respect,” they said, reiterating that the closure of the Salugpungan schools was a decision made by the communities themselves—not an act of oppression.

The statement also reaffirmed the community’s rejection and affiliation with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).

“We do not support the CPP or the NPA’s revolution. We need peace, education, health services, and sustainable development—not ideologies that have already harmed our people,” the council declared.

Last year, the council also praised the Regional Trial Court of Tagum City for upholding what they called “true justice,” stating that the conviction of the Talaingod 13 affirmed the rights of Indigenous Peoples to protect their children and reject unwanted external influence.

 Kalinaw Southeastern Mindanao also held a rally last year in support of the July 2024 court decision, hailing it as more than just a move to hold individuals accountable but about acknowledging the suffering of the Lumad people. Kalinaw Southeastern Mindanao

“Solidarity must begin with consent,” the statement read. “If you truly stand with the Lumad, you must stand with our decisions, our leaders, and our rights.” 

The tribal council concluded by calling on civil society organizations and human rights advocates to respect Indigenous autonomy and stop speaking on their behalf without consultation.

“We are not passive victims or political backdrops. We are capable of protecting our children, defending our communities, and determining our future,” the council said.