95 families flee homes

From the Mindanao Times (Jan 5): 95 families flee homes

Some 95 families from three hinterland sitios in Baguio district evacuated to Brgy Tambobong reported ly due to fear from the New People’s Army (NPA). Purok leaders from sitios Kibidtud, Kidale, and Balakan, said during an interview close to the headquarters of the 84th ID in Tambobong yesterday.

Sammy Sanadi, purok leader of Sitio Kidale, said that 52 families left their houses and moved to the barangay center when the rebel group allegedly went to the area for a medical mission last Dec. 31. He said that rumors were rife that NPAs will be going to the sitio after their anniversary on Dec 26. He admits that he does not know the intentions of the NPA but “the residence have already doubted them because they were just so many.” There were an estimated 100 NPA rebels present in their area.  According to the purok leader, this prompted him to report to Btgy. Capt. Ezekiel Salandao that there were armed NPA in his place. “I immediately reported the situation so as to erase the doubt that we are accomodating them, when we have asked them to leave,” Sanadi said.

Datu Ismael Gubat, purok leader of Kibidtud, said that 37 families have also left their houses and temporarily reside in Brgy. Tambobong after the rebel group arrived in their area last Jan 1. Sanadi said that the residence fear the presence of the NPAs and have abandoned their source of livelihood.

Meanwhile, Datu Koting Inok, purok leader of Sitio Balakan, said that only about six families have left their homes in their sitio. According to Inok, he only knew about these families leaving their homes just yesterday, adding that they should not be afraid of the NPAs presence. The purok leader denied the report that the rebel group were terrorizing his village. “If they(residents) had been terrorized, I should have received a report about it,” he said.

1st Lt. Bernard Betita, commander of the charlie company of the 84th Infantry Battalion, confirmed the presence of the NPA in Sitio Kibidtud. Betita assured the residence that they will secure their barangay and have already deployed a company, consisting more than 80 soldiers.

2nd Lt. Catherine Hapin, civil military operations officer of the 84th Infantry Battalion, said that two civilians have been abducted by the NPA on Thursday morning. The two captives, identified as Tata Pandian and Junjun Alonzo of Sitio Luyan, were also included during the abduction together with two other residents and three Cafgu Active Auxilliary last Dec. 30. They were, however, freed after two days of interrogation. Hapin also revealed that a certain Boyet Duyan was able to escape from the hands of the rebel group last Thursday morning

Last Dec. 31, 2012, Duyan, together with Joel Espina of Lower Luyan of the same barangay and a certain Junjun Ogao, were held captive by the rebel group. Ogao was reportedly the grandson of the late Datu Causing Ogao who was killed by the NPA last July 2012.

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