MANILA, Philippines – New National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) chief Allen Capuyan attested that he has the ethnic lineage required for the post.

In a Facebook post sent to Rappler by former presidential peace process adviser Jesus Dureza, Capuyan said, “I’m an IP by blood from the Manobo tribe of Agusan del Sur.”

“I have the lineage and certification…  I went through the process to be selected as NCIP Ethnographic Region Commissioner for Regions 11/13 last May 27,” he said.

Part of the requirement to be an NCIP chairperson or commissioner is to be part of an ethnographic region, with certification from an IP group or indigenous cultural community.

He also said he will be serving as NCIP chairman concurrent with his post as executive director of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

It’s an office created by President Rodrigo Duterte that seeks to prevent, at the local level, people from joining the New People’s Army, the armed group of the Communist Party of the Philippines. 

Capuyan explained the rationale behind Duterte asking him to serve two positions. 

“The wisdom I hold both position is the President’s desire to have a Laser Focus actions for the ICCs/IPs [and for] full implementation of the intent and spirit of IPRA (Indigenous Peoples Rights Act),” he said.

But he said this could only happen if the indigenous peoples are “liberated from almost 50 years of infiltration, destruction, influence and control of the CPP/NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army).”

Capuyan emphasized the need to expose communist legal fronts and alleged “extortion, mass killings, and corruption of IP culture.”

Veiled threat

In his Facebook post, Capuyan made a veiled threat against Rappler and “communist” groups that a “crime” they supposedly committed would eventually be revealed. 

“Rappler and the CTGs committed a CRIME against the ICCs/IPs and it will be revealed in due time,” he said 

He had been reacting to Rappler’s article discussing issues surrounding his appointment as NCIP chief.  (READ: What issues surround Allen Capuyan’s NCIP appointment?)

Rappler had sought his side through text message but got no response. – Rappler.com