Indigenous people abandon armed struggle

From the Philippine Information Agency (Nov 6): Indigenous people abandon armed struggle

Some 101 household members of the indigenous people of the Tribu Bukidnon in Barangay San Agustin, Isabela town abandoned the armed struggle and vowed to become a peaceful community.

Tribe members pledged, October 31, as part of the Indigenous People’s Month celebration to exercise non-violence in their community as IP Tribal Chieftain Jacinto Dadlis turned over the red flag of the New People’s Army to Governor Alfredo Mara?on Jr.

At the turn-over, Daldis expressed they do not seek violence anymore instead, they want to go on with their lives practicing and enriching their culture and tradition as a tribe.

“We trust and lift our hope to the government that’s why I decided to turn over the flag instead of burning it,” Daldis said in the dialect.

The IPs acknowledged the significant role of the Bayanihan Teams in the area as an eye-opener.

A tribe member said that through the soldiers’ constant dialogue, visibility, and efforts in listening and resolving their issues, coupled with the delivery of basic services, all they realized the flawed ideology inculcated by the New People’s Army to them.

“There is indeed a government; we were used and blinded” shared one of the IPs whose name is withheld for security reasons.

Meanwhile, Mara?on expressed his appreciation for the Tribu Bukidnon for deciding to return in the mainstream.

In return, the provincial government offered for the construction of Grades 1 and 2 Public Classroom, construction of public road for Sitio Mahupaho, Hanging Bridges crossing the three (3) rivers and Water pipe needed for four villages linking from one house to another.

303rd Infantry Brigade Commander, Col. Jon N. Aying said that in celebrating and commemorating the Indigenous People’s Month, we remember the richness of our ancestors’ culture and tradition.

“This is like going back to our roots and that is our moral values. We, in the military are optimistic that in some areas of the Province the state of normalcy is possible to achieve”

Aying said.Mara?on urged the IPs to continue their way of living nurturing their ancestral domain culture.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1031383708298