IMPASUGONG, Bukidnon --To strengthen ties with Indigenous People (IP) in Bukidnon, troopers of the 8th Infantry “Dependable” Battalion, Philippine Army, sat on a dialogue table with tribal chieftains of Impasugong, Tuesday, September 17 to answer all military concerns of the IP community.
During the dialogue, the IP leaders were given the chance to voice out their concerns on military issues to include the plight of surrenderees, fear of bombing, aggressive military operations, and tagging of IPs as supporters of the New People's Army (NPA), among others.
Lt Col Ronald Illana, commanding officer of 8th IB, answered all the concerns raised and guaranteed immediate appropriate actions on it. He clarified that the tagging was not made by the Philippine Army. It was only a strategy created by the NPA to create a divide between soldiers and the community.
Chieftain Alfredo Tominao strongly stressed on his message, “to make the water crystal clear, you must clear the source. In other words, we alone in the barangay level cannot stop the atrocities of the NPA. The support they get from the higher level must be stopped. In that manner, they will be immobilized and destroyed.”
Illana, meanwhile, expressed his gratitude to the IP leaders for sharing their military-related concerns. “I admire the IP leaders because of their sincerity for lasting peace. This dialogue has opened our [Philippine Army] eyes on how we can still improve our services to the people. This has been our avenue to deepen our relationship with the community,” he said.
The two parties came into an agreement to work together on the validation of the alleged "NPA supporters."
The dialogue also yielded into a collaboration on the protection of IP surrenderees inside military camps and the preservation of their culture as IP.
Prior to the dialogue, soldiers from 8th IB and representatives from Balay Mindanaw Foundation Inc. (BMFI), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region X, and Parish Pastoral Council of Impasugong witnessed the tribal ritual called “Singampo” – a prayer in a customary way to appease the Supreme Creator for the success of the activity and safety of everybody followed by “Pamalas” – a practice to welcome visitors.
The IP ritual and dialogue was held at Atugan Nature Farm in Barangay Capitan Bayong, here, and facilitated by BMFI.
BMFI is working together with other members of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) in promoting social cohesion in its area of operations. The government also recognizes the importance of the church in promoting peace and order situation. (8th IB, PA/PIA10)
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1027510
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