An indigenous peoples (IP) rights group slammed as “fake news” the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) denial that soldiers have been blocking food and aid for evacuees in a village in Lianga, Surigao del Sur. “What do you call controlling the entry of food, is it not food blockade? Since November 26 until December 8, within 13 days, each family subsisted on 10 kilos of rice for food. But according to Mapasu, Alternative Learning Center For Agricultural and Livelihood Development Incorporated (Alcadev) and Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights, last Nov. 28, the 75th Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army (IBPA) manning the checkpoint in Km. In the same briefing, the AFP spokesperson also pointed out that most members of the NPA are Lumad.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 17, 2017 08:37 UTC