TALAINGOD, Davao del Norte (PIA) - Close to 200 leaders and members of the Ata-Manabo tribe here staged a rally on Saturday (July 20) to declare that the communist New People’s Army was unwelcome in their communities.
The rally, which declared the NPA as "persona non grata," was attended by Bae Pilar Libayao, Talaingod Indigenous People’s mandatory representative; Datu Lumansad Sibogan, tribal chieftain of Talaingod; and Datu Guibang Apoga, the founder of Salugpungan Ta’Tanu Igkanugon.
A persona non grata would be deemed ostracized.
Speaking at the rally, Talaingod Mayor Jonnie Libayao expressed his support to the Ata-Manobos, saying he intended to restore peace in the tribal communities of his town.
“Ang Kapayapaan ay makakamtan natin kung tayo ay magkakaisa at tutulong sugpuin ang mga mapagsamantalang mga komunistang NPA kabalikat ang kasundaluhan na walang sawang nagmamalasakit sa atin para makamtan ang tunay na kapayapaan sa Bayan ng Talaingod,” he said.
(We can attain peace if we will unite and cooperate to stop the abuse of NPAs with the help of the military which has been supporting us to achieve true peace in the municipality of Talaingod.)
For his part, Col. Alexis Noel Bravo, deputy commander of the Army's 1003rd Infantry Brigade, praised the Ata Manobos’ resolve to drive away the communist rebels.
“Ngayon masasabi ko na posible dahil ipinapakita ninyo, na kayo mismo ang nagtatakwil sa kanila. (Now I can say that it is possible because it is no other than you who are driving them out),” he said, referring to likelihood of ending communist insurgency in Talaingod.
Bravo assured the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) of the Army’s support in their bid to restore peace in the hinterlands which were once lairs of communist insurgents.
The rally was marked by the presentation of resolutions of Barangays Sto. Nino, Dagohoy and Palma Gil. The resolutions declared the NPA leaders and members as banned from entering these barangays.
The rally formed part of the peace-building seminar organized by the 56th Infantry Battalion at Tribal Hall, Sitio JBL, Brgy Sto Niño, Talaingod, Davao del Norte from July 18 to 20, 2019.
In his message during the seminar, 56th Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Col. Norman E. Valdez said the concern that the military had extended to IP communities in Talaingod “is sincere”.
He assured the Ata-Manobos of the continued and sustaining support of the military in restoring peace and paving the way for development especially in the hinterlands of Talaingod. (PIA-11/The Army's 56th Infantry Battalion contributed to this report)
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