Two teachers no longer report for work in Davao’s NPA-infested village

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 2): Two teachers no longer report for work in Davao’s NPA-infested village

At least two teachers assigned in a school in Barangay Malabog in Paquibato District here have not reported for work for more than two weeks due to fear of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the area. This was confirmed recently by Lt. Col. Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the 69th Infantry Battalion (IB), in an interview at the sidelines of the installation of the new chief of Task Force Davao at its headquarters inside the Sta. Ana Wharf compound. Pasaporte said the teacher's move came after 17 families were evacuated from their houses in Purok 26, Sitio Alon, to Sitio Malikongkong in November 6, and since then stayed away from the area due to sightings of NPA rebels in the place.

He also confirmed that there were elementary students among the evacuees, whose studies might be affected because of the sudden evacuation. “Merong mga elementary students at lalong nakapasaklap dyan ay pati na yung mga guro dun sa school nay yun na may Grade I and II classrooms ay hindi na rin nag-rereport sa trabaho nila kasi natatakot na rin (There were elementary students but what is sad to note is that even teachers in that school with two Grades, I and II, have also failed to report for work due to fear),” he said.

Pasaporte said this was the result of the continued harassment by the rebel group, especially the one led by Leoncio Pitao alias Kumander Parago, Pulang Bagani Command. He said residents who would not give in to the demands of Pitao to join rallies and demonstrations in protest to the presence of government troops in the area are immediately suspected as being military informants. The military official said now that the main headquarters of the battalion is already in Paquibato district, they will be augmenting forces from the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) especially that they received intelligence reports that the abandoned village will be reportedly used as venue for the 44th year anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines on December 27.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=476448