Peace pact unites soldiers, Lumads

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jul 27): Peace pact unites soldiers, Lumads

IMPASUGONG, Bukidnon — The Indigenous People (IPs) — traditionally known as “Lumads”— of Impasugong and Cabanglasan towns, and the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry (Dependable) Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division, launched a peace pact to condemn violence and raise strong commitment to promote peace in the province of Bukidnon.

In a ritual and peace pact dubbed “Panaghiusa hu mga kasundaluhan daw hu mga Lumad (unity of the soldiers and the indigenous peoples),” 71 tribal elders and leaders from the Higaonon, Talaandig and Umayamnon tribes along Kalabugao Plains, Mt. Kitanglad range of Impasugong, Upper Pulangui area of Malaybalay City, and the ancestral territories of Cabanglasan, all of Bukidnon, vowed to step up cooperation to bring in lasting solutions to conflicts so people could live peacefully and productively.

The tribal leaders have long sought for military and local government units’ (LGUs) help in their quest for lasting peace in ancestral territories that have been desecrated by the communist NPA rebels for a long time.

Lyco-Lyco Pintuan, one of the elders of the Higaonon tribe who recounted his ordeal with the rebels, expressed gratitude to the LGU and military’s response to the IP’s woes.

Pintuan said these insurgents violated the rights of the Lumads by building encampments, recruiting the IP youth, forcibly organizing the people as NPA supporters; subjecting them to forced taxation, compelling them unnecessarily to evacuate their territories and become Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and coercing them to join mass protests in town centers.

This sad fate of IPs prompted the military and the LGUs to ally with the tribes and resolve these issues in the hope of winning peace once more.

Among the highlights of the event was the acceptance and adoption of Lt. Col. Lennon G. Babilonia, the Commanding Officer of 8th Infantry Battalion, as “Datu Impamani (guardian of the Lumads),” by the elders, during a sacred ritual called “Pagdang-ul.”

In the acceptance rites, Higaonon tribal leader Pintuan said he is blissful and very much overwhelmed on the occasion.“Many of our elders have been killed by the NPA in recent years, that’s why we live in fear. Our problems, particularly on security, made us hopeless. But now we have found new hope,” he said.

Lt. Col. Babilonia, now an adopted member of the elders of the tribe, showed his respect and honor to the Lumads.

“I am very much honored to be a part of the Lumads here in Bukidnon. My being a member of the tribe gives me and my men more responsibility in uplifting their rights and respecting their cultures and traditions. Our partnership will eventually be instrumental to fulfil our objective of winning peace for their safety and well-being; and for them to attain quality and progressive life,” he said.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1501437993377/peace-pact-unites-soldiers-lumads