MERE PROPAGANDA. Secretary Allen Capuyan, Chairperson of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (2nd from left, with back to the camera), watches protesters outside the NCIP building on Thursday morning while waiting for a chance to have a dialogue with them but failed. Capuyan said it was not the intention of the more or less 50 rallyists to talk with NCIP officials and even threw away copies of the Commission’s 2019 accomplishment report. (Contributed photo)
MANILA – The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) top official said the rally staged in front of their building along Quezon Avenue, Quezon City on Thursday was mere propaganda as protesters refused to have a dialogue.
Secretary Allen Capuyan, NCIP Chairperson, said it was not the intention of the more or less 50 protesters led by Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Eufemia Cullamat to talk with NCIP officials pertaining to alleged claims of atrocities against indigenous peoples (IPs).
“It’s all propaganda and no talks. Ironically, Cong. Cullamat was there at hindi nagsalita (and she did not speak),” he said.
He added that he decided to take a break from a Zoom meeting when he learned of the rally, hoping to have a dialogue with rally leaders.
Instead of insisting on the dialogue, he said they distributed copies of the NCIP Annual Accomplishment Report for 2019.
Still hoping for a peaceful meeting with them so he can hear them out, Capuyan advised his chief of staff, lawyer Ardy Fajutan, to stay behind because he needs to go back to his meeting.
“Tinapon nila ang NCIP Reports (they threw away the NCIP Reports) and did not engage in a dialogue,” Capuyan said. A link to the video posted on NCIP’s Facebook page https://fb.watch/3jJffzaIzq/ shows the protesters throwing away copies of the annual report. (PNA)
