'Lumad' abductors air demands

BAYUGAN, Agusan del Sur -- Armed groups of lumads (uplanders), who abducted a community environment and natural resources officer (CENRO), a forester and their driver last May 4, have relayed a number of demands in exchange for the release of their three captives.

The abductors wanted the following:

* Total autonomy for the lumads to cut naturally grown trees without restrictions from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources;

* Allowing the transport of two truckloads of hardwood without DENR or police confiscation;

* Operation of the Agusan del Sur Sawmill without DENR intervention;

* Approval, without delay, of their applications for timber license agreement; and the

* Creation of a Forest Protection Multisectoral Committee to safeguard their ancestral domain, particularly at the Andanan watershed in this town.

Ricardo Lumbang, provincial environment and natural resources officer, however, said the abductors' demands are not within their jurisdiction, but will be brought up to DENR regional executive director Primitivo Galinato Jr. and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Antonio Cerilles.

Being held captive are CENRO Juan Perez, forester Melito Legaspi and driver Raymundo Redundo.