The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) reported on Thursday that the leader of the unregistered Indigenous People group, the Federal Tribal Government of the Philippines (FDTGP), has been arrested.
In a police report, the CIDG stated that Jorgeto Corpuz Santisas, also known as “Datu Adlaw,” was arrested in Barangay Sabang, Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.
Furthermore, the CIDG found nine children in the area where the arrest took place, along with 23 other individuals suspected to be members of the same alleged bogus IP group, including one of the claimed leaders, Lourdes Salinas.
In January, a complaint for alarm and scandal was filed against the group after they padlocked several establishments in Surigao City due to an issue concerning ancestral claims.
However, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) stated that the FTGP, which has reportedly been collecting money from recruited members, is not registered as an Indigenous People organization in their records.
Datu Adlaw was arrested by virtue of an arrest warrant due to a case of usurpation of authority.
