Tuesday, June 3, 2014

163 displaced families in NorCot town due to armed conflict return home

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 3): 163 displaced families in NorCot town due to armed conflict return home

The local government here has convinced some 163 families who fled their homes after armed men harassed their communities to return home as normalcy has been restored.

Mayor Lani Candolada of Tulunan, North Cotabato said the displaced families were already extended with relief assistance from the local government unit through the town’s social welfare and development office.

Mayor Candolada said most of the 163 families who fled their homes in the village of Popoyon Sunday after gunmen claiming ownership of vast tracks of lands attacked them, leaving a 12-year-old girl wounded.

“I told them that normalcy has been restored in Barangay Popoyon but some evacuees, especially those near the area where harassment occurred, returned home at day and went back to evacuation sites at night,” she said.

According to Senior Insp. Ronnie Cordero, Tulunan police chief, the displaced families fled after gunmen, led by a certain Commander Musa, fired at villages farming in Barangay Popoyon last Sunday morning.

Some civilians who were armed traded shots with the attackers.

“It was a long standing land dispute and we are trying to address it through peaceful means,” Candolada said.

She added previous agreements have been reached but “somehow not implemented on the grounds.”

She said she sought the help of traditional Muslim leaders and all stakeholders were involved in finding a win-win solution,” she added.

Candolada said adding that she was not losing hope the parties involved in the land dispute could come together and reach a lasting agreement.

According to the lady mayor, the current occupant of the farm lots have evidence to show they legally owned the land but other claimants also insisted they legally own the disputed lot, thus the recurring conflict.

To prevent further violence, Candolada said soldiers and policemen have been deployed in the village of Popoyon where farmers have to start planting rice and other agricultural crops since it is already planting season.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=649674

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