A total of 750 Indigenous Peoples came down from the 27 mountain barangays of Paquibato District, Davao City, Santo Tomas and Panabo City, Davao del Norte and parts of Bukidnon to attend the reorganization of the Bahani peace warriors as guards of the ancestral domain of the Ata Tribe.
Konolan Jose Amban, head of the Tribal Council said the primary purpose of their gathering held in Barangay Malabog in Paquibato District, is to foster unity among the Ata members within the 80,000 hectare-ancestral domain covering Barangay Callawa, all of Paquibato District, a portion of Panabo City and Sto. Tomas in Davao del Norte all the way to a portion of San Fernando, Bukidnon.
He stressed that the primary role of the Bahani is to ensure that the tribal laws of the land is followed within the ancestral domain.
“We need to bond ourselves together to ensure that peace is maintained within the ancestral domain area,” Amban said.
He also said that indeed peace remains touchy in Paquibato District since the rebels use the ravines as access from one barangay to another.
Amban said the communist rebels now avoid going to the places of dwelling and would hide their movement in the gullies to avoid detection by the people and the security forces.
Many Atas came with the bows and arrows, and spears.
Colonel Nolasco Mempin, commander of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade assured the presence of the soldiers in Paquibato and guaranteed that the rebels would stay at bay and far from the peaceful existence of residence due to their focused operations.
He observed that the Davao City government’s peace program or the Peace 911 has restored the peace by bringing in the area the needed government services.
However, Mempin stressed that the traumatic experience of the Paquibato residents on the 50-year communist insurgency must not be discounted.
He stressed the need for healing and the restoration of the trust in government especially the Armed Forces who would stay with them in times of emergency.
“The reorganization of the Bahani will ensure the maintenance of peace and order in the ancestral domain area, as we focus on security through the conduct of focused military operation. The Peace 911 which is an effort of the city government ensures the delivery of basic services through a whole-of-nation convergence,” Mempin said. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)
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