North Cotabato's Muslim, Christian, Lumad leaders sign peace pact, plant 'trees of unity'

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 29): North Cotabato's Muslim, Christian, Lumad leaders sign peace pact, plant 'trees of unity'

MATALAM, North Cotabato -- Leaders of three major tribal groups in a remote village here have agreed Thursday to put an end to more than a decade of land dispute by signing a peace covenant initiated by Church leaders.

Representing the tri-people of Lumad, Christians and Muslims, local leaders also planted three Narra seedlings they all nurture to sustain the peace covenant.

"The Narra tree symbolizes our commitment to sustain peace in our community," said Tri-people group chairperson and Sitio Leader Eduardo Balindres.

"As long as the trees grow, our peace and unity will continue, so all of us will ensure the narra trees will not die," he added.

At least seven lives were lost when warring groups clashed due to land dispute.

The Narra trees were planted in the "prayer garden/tri-peoples park" to signal unity and an end to bloody skirmishes in Sitio Israel, Barangay New Abra, Matalam, North Cotabato Wednesday.

Balindres said they no longer want more lives lost among Christians, Lumad and Muslim residents.
Formed in 2000, the community was rocked by violence that claimed the lives of innocent civilians.

Before the peace covenant signing, a mass was presided over by Fr. Edmundo Palomar, DCK, Matalam parish priest.

Officials said the covenant signing was even more meaningful since the community was celebrating its fiesta under the theme "Sagrada Familia: Kasama ng tatlong tribu ang Lumad, Kristiyano at Muslim, nagkakaisa tungo sa Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran."

Datu Mama Mantawil of the Muslim sector, Datu Espino Bandara for Lumad and Eduardo Balindres for Christians signed the peace pact and vowed to prioritize peaceful solution to any misunderstanding that may arise in the future.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=951568