DEATH OF A TRIBESMAN. The Manobo tribe in San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, condemns Wednesday (Sept. 12, 2023) the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army for the death of Dexter Maca, a tribe member who was recruited to the rebel movement last year. Maca was killed during an encounter on Sept. 11 in Barangay Maticdum, Tandag City, Surigao del Sur. (Photo courtesy of Datu Rico Maca)
BUTUAN CITY – The Manobo tribe in the Surigao del Sur town of San Miguel has condemned the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) for the death of a tribesman during a recent encounter in the area.
Dexter Maca was killed in an armed encounter last Sept. 11 in Barangay Maticdum, Tandag City, Surigao del Sur, with troopers of the Army's 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion.
“Dexter is another victim of CPP-NPA recruitment. He was fooled and misled by the group to join their ranks,” said Datu Rico Maca, the Indigenous People Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of San Miguel, in a phone interview on Wednesday.
Maca said he spoke with Dexter on the phone in October last year to convince him to surrender.
“I heard he was recruited by the NPA, so I tried to connect with him. He told me that he was into falcata tree planting and would proceed to Davao City to be with his wife. Later, I was told that Dexter was lying to me as he was already duped by the CPP-NPA,” Maca said.
Dexter’s family sought his help to save him from joining the rebel group, but they all failed, the Manobo leader said.
“As the IPMR of San Miguel and a leader of the Maca clan from the Manobo tribe, I call on the remaining tribesmen inside the NPA to surrender and return home to our family,” he said.
Maca urged Nico Maca Mahinay, the commander of the NPA Guerrilla Front 30 under the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee, to surrender and avail of the programs and services of the government.
“We, as your tribal leaders, will exert all efforts to support you if you decide to abandon the NPA and return home,” Maca said, adding that the remaining tribesmen in the rebel group should contact their elders so that their surrender could be arranged. (PNA)
