Lumads denounce presence of NPA in their area

From the Philippine Information Agency (Sep 4): Lumads denounce presence of NPA in their area

KORONADAL CITY,  South Cotabato --   Over a  thousand  Tboli and Blaan  residents   in   Lake Sebu, this province, marched to  the town plaza  on  Saturday afternoon,  Aug.  30  to denounce  the   presence New People’s  Army (NPA)  in their  area.

Capt. Rey Balibagoso, spokesperson of the 1002nd  Infantry Brigade  Philippine  Army,  told Philippine  Information  Agency   in a statement  that the  peace rally,  participated by  residents from the  municipality’s   19  barangays, was  organized  to  show their objection  to the atrocities carried  by the  rebel  group  in  the area. 

“Hadu kem  tao tabag; aknagol to dad NPA! (We  denounce the  group NPA; we do not  need  them!),  the  participants  shouted in their  mother  tongue as they  marched to the  town  plaza.

Among  the  marchers  were  chieftains,  tribal  leaders, and barangay  officials.

Balibagoso  said  most of the participants  came  from   Barangay  Ned,  the biggest  and farthest  barangay of Lake  Sebu.

“The NPA  terrorized them (residents of Barangay  Ned) before the conduct  of the Peace and Development  Outreach Program  by the 27th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, in collaboration  with the local  government unit   and  concerned agencies,” he said.

Speaking  at the rally, Lake  Sebu  Mayor Antonio Fungan emphasized:  “We, the IPs, are  peace-loving people. What  my constituents need are basic services like health, education, and livelihood.”

Fungan  said  the  national  government is  currently  constructing  a road  network that  would  connect  Poblacion, Lake Sebu   to  Maitum, Sarangani via  Barangay  Ned.

Once  completed  the road  could mean less  costly and   fast  transportation of   agriculture  products of  farmers  in the uplands  to the market; however, the presence of the  rebel  group  along the South Cotabato – Sarangani  boundary  poses a threat  to this  development program.

On this  regard, the   local  chief  executive  requested  the  27th IB  to  provide  security  for the heavy equipment  and the workers  constructing the  road.

‘We are  promoting  our  town as  a tourist  destination. For now, we are number 2 tourist  destination in the  Philippines. We  envision to become the  number 1  someday,”  he added.

In response,  Lt. Col. Shalimar Imperial  assured  to sustain  the peace and order  in the  area  with the  help  from local  police, the LGU,  and other stakeholders.

Meanwhile,  Col. Ronald  Villanueva, commanding  officer  of the 1002nd Infantry  Brigade  appealed to the  NPAs  to  spare  the indigenous  peoples in their  useless and  futile armed struggle.

“The IPs  have the right  to self-governance and self-determination. It is stated in  Republic Act 8371, the Indigenous People’s Rights Act of 1997,”  said Col. Imperial.

In an  interview,   Capt.  Balibagoso confirmed  that  prior to the  peace rally in  Lake  Sebu, several  peace marches  have  been  held in their  areas of  responsibility.

These included   a condemnation rally in  Digos City  on March 5  denouncing the  armed  group’s  use of landmines in  nearby Bansalan  town  where  four civilians were  injured;  in Pinalpalan  in Malita, Davao del Sur on  July 27  where a Tagakaolo civilian  was  killed by members of the NPA; in Makilala, North Cotabato  on August  9; and  in Poblacion, Arakan, North Cotabato  on August  21.

“The   upland  folk  continue  to  denounce the  CPP-NPA-NDF and  call  for  the support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’s  campaign  on Internal Peace and Security Plan – Bayanihan, so that  peace and  development  will continue,”  Balibagoso  said.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1611409809439