Red-tagging a Lumad school

JEERS TO Manila Bulletin’s Tempo for accusing in its headline a Lumad school of being run by the New People’s Army (NPA).

“NPA-run school faces closure,” the Tempo article, published October 7, said without identifying the school. The closure order was issued by White Kulaman village chief Felipe Cabugnason who said the school was a “threat to the safety of the people.” It also said the chief identified at least three NPA leaders — Ka Macoy, Ka Ebyang and Ka Esoy — as the ones behind the school’s operation.

The report was referring to the Fr. Fausto Tentorio Memorial School which was run by the Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Inc. (MISFI) in White Kulaman village in Kitaotao, Bukidnon. The school was named after the Italian missionary who was killed inside his parish in Arakan, North Cotabato in October 2011. (“Another ‘lumad’ school tagged Red, ordered shut,” Philippine Daily Inquirer, Oct. 4, 2015)

But the closure was averted after a Department of Education official in Malaybalay City called the attention of Cabugnason. (“DepEd averts closure of ‘lumad’ school,” Inquirer, Oct. 7, 2015)

Tempo’s report was not only a one-sided report — it did not even bother to present any proof or evidence to support the assertion of Cabugnason, who is a known supporter of the military. (“Army thwarts NPA plot to kill Bukidnon village chief,” Bukidnon Online, Sept. 24, 2015) Many organizations and individuals in the Philippines are often accused of being communist rebels by the military. This red-tagging is often a prelude to harassment or attacks.

The Tempo article was called to CMFR’s attention by netizens after the Bulletin’s official Twitter account tweeted the report.

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