Brig. Gen. Filmore Escobal, Police Regional Office 11 Director. (PNA photo by Che Palicte)
DAVAO CITY – An official of the Police Regional Office in the Davao region (PRO-11) denied that those who attempted to rescue indigenous people (IP) from the Haran compound of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) here are members of the Alamara paramilitary group.
"It is not true, they are tribal leaders who just want their fellow IP brothers and sisters to go back to their communities," said Brig. Gen. Filmore Escobal, PRO-11 Director said during a Saturday standoff when tribal leaders from Kapalong and Talaingod, Davao del Norte led by Datu Guibang Apoga attempted to rescue IPs housed at Haran Mission Center.
The Haran Mission Center, he said, is a fake evacuation center and not accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the school operating inside is not also accredited by the Department of Education (DepEd).
"They detained the IPs and there is an ongoing crime that we need to give an action. They have been deceiving the people," he added.
Escobal also asked the UCCP officials to cooperate and allow the IPs to return to their homes.
"We are helping those IPs gain freedom. I am asking Bishop Hamuel Tequis to cooperate and if he prevented these IPs to come out we will also arrest him," he added.
Tension ensued after Datu Apoga along with family members and relatives of those who are inside the center wanted to pull out the IPs and persuade them to go back to their respective tribal villages.
LEADER’S CONCERN. Datu Guibang Apoga, tribal leader from Talaingod who led the rescue attempt at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Haran Mission Center on Saturday (January 25), patiently waits outside the center hoping to convince his fellow IP brothers and sisters return to their respective villages. (PNA photo by Che Palicte)
Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib said Apoga along with other tribal leaders went to his office asking for assistance and transportation.
"I immediately responded to their request since it is for the betterment of their tribe. I provided transportation and food for their rescue," Jubahib said.
Upon the arrival of the group at the Haran center at around 9 a.m. Saturday, tension broke out after some group tried to break and rescue the IPs inside prompting the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) to intervene and deploy personnel to avoid further commotion.
Police Col. Kirby John Kraft, Director of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), ordered a lockdown barring entry and exit from the Haran center including journalists.
“We avoid commotion that's why we have to lock it down, " Kraft said.
DSWD assurance
Meanwhile, the DSWD and City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) have deployed social workers to help convince the IPs inside the center to return to their communities.
DSWD-11 Director Grace Subong, in an interview Saturday, said the agency is always ready to accommodate the IPs should they decide to leave the Haran center.
Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib said Apoga along with other tribal leaders went to his office asking for assistance and transportation.
"I immediately responded to their request since it is for the betterment of their tribe. I provided transportation and food for their rescue," Jubahib said.
Upon the arrival of the group at the Haran center at around 9 a.m. Saturday, tension broke out after some group tried to break and rescue the IPs inside prompting the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) to intervene and deploy personnel to avoid further commotion.
Police Col. Kirby John Kraft, Director of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), ordered a lockdown barring entry and exit from the Haran center including journalists.
“We avoid commotion that's why we have to lock it down, " Kraft said.
DSWD assurance
Meanwhile, the DSWD and City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) have deployed social workers to help convince the IPs inside the center to return to their communities.
DSWD-11 Director Grace Subong, in an interview Saturday, said the agency is always ready to accommodate the IPs should they decide to leave the Haran center.
GETTING APPRISED. Davao City Acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte (right) listens to United Church of Christ in the Philippines Southern Mindanao Jurisdictional Area (UCCP SEMJA) head, Bishop Hamuel Tequis, as he narrated the event that happened inside the Haran center on Saturday (Jan. 25). (Photo by Kilab Multimedia)
LGU intervention
Davao City Acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte arrived at the facility at around 4 p.m. and held a dialogue with UCCP Southeast Mindanao Jurisdictional Area (UCCP SEMJA) head, Bishop Hamuel Tequis.
"Despite the little tension, no one was hurt. It turned out peacefully," he said, adding that he suggested having a second round of talks for both camps to further discuss the fate of the IPs.
Davao del Norte Gov. Jubahib, along with Escobal, later arrived to talk with Tequis, who told the former that the center is a “sanctuary of peace” and they will continue to serve the IPs as mandated by their Church’s teaching.
Jubahib, in his meeting with Tquis and other IPs housed at the center, presented the various program developments being implemented by the provincial government that benefits the IPs, particularly in Talaingod and Kapalong.
The monthly seed distribution, for instance, Jubahib said, will be their source of livelihood.
Apart from that, the provincial government through the National Housing Authority (NHA) will build 300 houses in Talaingod and 100 houses in Kapalong exclusively for the IPs.
He added that various access roads were also opened and scholarship grants were given to the IPs.
"This will eventually change their living conditions if they will go back to their communities," he said.
Responding to Datu Tungig Mansomuy-at ‘s statement that they will only go back to their communities as soon as the military is pulled from the areas and allow the Salugpongan schools to operate again, Jubahib said the military provides peace and protection in their areas while the DepEd-run schools were already established near the dismantled Salugpongan schools.
"The government put up these schools to provide good education to your children so there is no reason to establish the Salugpongan schools," he said.
LGU intervention
Davao City Acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte arrived at the facility at around 4 p.m. and held a dialogue with UCCP Southeast Mindanao Jurisdictional Area (UCCP SEMJA) head, Bishop Hamuel Tequis.
"Despite the little tension, no one was hurt. It turned out peacefully," he said, adding that he suggested having a second round of talks for both camps to further discuss the fate of the IPs.
Davao del Norte Gov. Jubahib, along with Escobal, later arrived to talk with Tequis, who told the former that the center is a “sanctuary of peace” and they will continue to serve the IPs as mandated by their Church’s teaching.
Jubahib, in his meeting with Tquis and other IPs housed at the center, presented the various program developments being implemented by the provincial government that benefits the IPs, particularly in Talaingod and Kapalong.
The monthly seed distribution, for instance, Jubahib said, will be their source of livelihood.
Apart from that, the provincial government through the National Housing Authority (NHA) will build 300 houses in Talaingod and 100 houses in Kapalong exclusively for the IPs.
He added that various access roads were also opened and scholarship grants were given to the IPs.
"This will eventually change their living conditions if they will go back to their communities," he said.
Responding to Datu Tungig Mansomuy-at ‘s statement that they will only go back to their communities as soon as the military is pulled from the areas and allow the Salugpongan schools to operate again, Jubahib said the military provides peace and protection in their areas while the DepEd-run schools were already established near the dismantled Salugpongan schools.
"The government put up these schools to provide good education to your children so there is no reason to establish the Salugpongan schools," he said.
RESCUED. Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib (right) talks with the five indigenous people who were rescued from the UCCP Haran Center on Saturday (Jan. 25). They were transported back to Barangay Dagohoy, Talaingod, Davao del Norte and were given PHP10, 000 each. (PNA photo by Che Palicte)
Five rescued
The dialogue yielded five IPs deciding to go back to their communities.
Among them are: Hasmin Boolan 25; Angel Amansor 22; Amyan Andel 25; Mayha Andel 18; and one minor alias Jenelyn, all from Barangay Dagohoy, Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
They said their decision was due to their situation inside the facility citing lack of water and food.
"It is hard living inside the evacuation center," Andel said.
Each received PHP10,000 from the Davao del Norte provincial government. They were provided transportation to Talaingod.
Jubahib committed to providing scholarship to the young IPs.
Haran's "Bakwit school" presently houses some 125 families or about 400 IPs from Talaingod and Kapalong in Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro and Arakan town, North Cotabato.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1091966
Five rescued
The dialogue yielded five IPs deciding to go back to their communities.
Among them are: Hasmin Boolan 25; Angel Amansor 22; Amyan Andel 25; Mayha Andel 18; and one minor alias Jenelyn, all from Barangay Dagohoy, Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
They said their decision was due to their situation inside the facility citing lack of water and food.
"It is hard living inside the evacuation center," Andel said.
Each received PHP10,000 from the Davao del Norte provincial government. They were provided transportation to Talaingod.
Jubahib committed to providing scholarship to the young IPs.
Haran's "Bakwit school" presently houses some 125 families or about 400 IPs from Talaingod and Kapalong in Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro and Arakan town, North Cotabato.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1091966
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