Army craft solutions to calm IPs in Paquibato

From the Philippine Information Agency (Nov 28): Army craft solutions to calm IPs in Paquibato

The military has mulled medium and long term solutions to help address the concerns of the indigenous peoples who evacuated their homes in the highlands of Paquibato District after they were allegedly being harassed by the New People’s Army. Major Jacob Thaddeus Obligado, commanding officer of the 10th Civil-Military Operations Battalion said one medium term solution to the problem is the immediate neutralization of the rebels' armed threat. He said the soldiers will run after the rebels to flush them out of the area. Obligado said the number of rebels in Paquibato is not more than 50. He said the 69th Infantry Battalion is already set to establish its headquarters in a strategic location in Paquibato from its current base in Barangay Dalisay, Panabo City, Davao del Norte. “We have to secure first the affected areas so that the IPs can return home and resume their way of life,” Obligado said. He said the military leadership is considering integrating some of the IPs to the Citizens’ Armed Force Geographical Unit, but the plan is still being reviewed thoroughly. Obligado said arming the IPs for self-defense maybe helpful, but it also promotes the culture of violence. He said the IPs will also become more vulnerable to rebel attacks because of the weapons issued to them. “Many among them want to join the CAFGU, but arming them only promotes the culture of violence,” Obligado said. For long term solution, he said the military is coordinating with the local government of Davao City, the Commission on Human Rights and other line-government agencies to help realize social mobilization and availability of economic opportunities for the IPs in Paquibato. Obligado said the IPs must be empowered to solve their own problems. He said it is favourable to government that the IPs are now coming out in the open to make a stand and to denounce the violence perpetrated by the communist rebels.

Earlier, a tribal leader sought the intervention of Mayor Sara Dutere-Carpio to appease several members of the indigenous peoples who evacuated from their farms in Barangay Malabog, Paquibato District after they were allegedly harassed by the New People’s Army. Datu Roel Arthur Ali, deputy mayor for the Ata tribe in Paquibato said the number of evacuees rose from 17 to 21 families after more IPs feared for their lives following the encounter of the soldiers and the rebels in the area. He said many tribal leaders claimed they were blamed by the rebels for the discovery of the presence by government troops in the mountainous areas of Barangay Malabog. “They were all threatened to be killed for squealing about their presence to the military. The rebels are just roaming around their farms so they fear for their lives,” Ali said. He said Sitios Alon and Malamon where all the evacuees came from are located in the forested highlands of Paquibato. Ali said most of the evacuees opted to leave their farms to secure themselves and their respective families while waiting for the assistance and intervention from the government.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=2381354067695