News Feature: AFP’s Outreach: Making a difference in Lumad IDPs community

From the Philippine Information Agency (Dec 14): News Feature: AFP’s Outreach: Making a difference in Lumad IDPs community

CABANGLASAN, Bukidnon, December 14 (PIA) — In Bukidnon province, the Indigenous People (IP) or Lumads are the most vulnerable victims of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) or “Bakwits,” as reported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Lately, in Barangay Freedom, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon, some Talaandig IP tribe “Bakwits” of 21 families composed of 107 individuals—including the oldest in the group who is 70 years old, and the helpless children—benefitted from the Philippine Army’s community outreach program.

Lt Col Lennon G Babilonia, commanding officer of the army’s 8th Infantry Battalion, said we should build relationships with our IDPs and care for our communities because it is a shared journey to peace.

The effects of conflict

In the case of Cabanglasan IDPs, the Talaandig Lumad “Bakwits” were forced to leave their homes in Sitio Ilian, Barangay Kasapa 2, La Paz, Agusan del Sur. They arrived in Freedom, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon on October 8, 2015 due to New People’s Army (NPA) attacks and harassments.

In an interview, Talaandig IDP tribal leader Lilongan Bucalas or Datu Manlomakad said they left their homes in La Paz, Agusan del Sur on October 3, 2015, when his brother Rene Bucalas or Datu Manhadukan Sandigan was brutally killed by the rebels of Pulang Bagani Unit, Section Committee 89, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee under a fellow Lumad, Junie Tilocan alias “Watiwit.”

Another victim, who is now 12 years old, is Ronie Bucalas. In one of the NPA’s attack in their village, Datu Manlomakad said the boy survived with a scar, when a bullet hit his forehead while he was five-month old.

Datu Manlomakad said they are now under threat by the NPAs.

He said, without warning, they are forced to flee immediately. In five days, they crossed valleys and rivers. Some get lost in the forest for days.

“And who can really bring everything you own? Remember that you will be walking long distances to reach safer areas where you can ask for help,” Manlomakad said dialect.
 
“Bakwits” have enormous needs

LtCol Babilonia, said our IDPs are in need of food, basic hygiene items, emergency shelter and other basic human rights that, unfortunately, are not easily within their reach.

“Our prime duty is to serve and protect the people. But the civil society groups can also do and share something to show that we care about our Lumad brothers and sisters especially those who are internally displaced. And that we do not agree with what is happening and that we want it to stop. There are many ways to get involved further.
 
The ‘Bayanihan’ outreach

Early this week, some 1,000 villagers, mostly women and children in said IDP community in Barangay Freedom, Cabanglasan town, benefited from the army’s outreach dubbed “Bayanihan para sa kapayapaan (working together for peace).”

Lumads availed of free tooth extraction and medical consultation. Others received free reading glasses, assorted medicines and vitamins after thorough medical examination; and males availed of free circumcision and haircut services.

The soldiers distributed used clothes and relief packs to IDPs during the event.
Datu Manlomakad, in response, expressed his gratefulness to the government troops and lauded the 8th Infantry Battalion for organizing such an event. "Daghan kaayong salamat kaninyo tanan sa inyong maayong kasing-kasing. Salamat kaayo sa mga kasundaluhan. Tinuod gyod nga kamo ang among masaligan (Thank you so much to all of you. You all have a good heart. Thank you so much to the soldiers. Indeed, we can depend on you),” he said.

The 8IB, likewise, expressed gratitude to its partners—the local government unit (LGU) of Cabanglasan, Bukidnon Pulangui River Lion's Club and Soriano Philippines Community Health Foundation.

IDPs should not be forgotten

When we hear the word Internally Displaced Persons or IDPs, we think of something like human rights abuses, violence, and other forms of conflict that result to the uprooting of families from their homes and ways of life.

Thus, it is right because UNHCR says IDPs are people who have been forced or obliged to leave their homes in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights or natural or human-made disasters, but remains within the country’s borders.

Indeed, it is in our Bayanihan (collaboration) that we can come up with an unequalled effort in ensuring that our less fortunate brothers, especially the Lumads who have been victims of the exploitations of NPA and all its cohorts, will benefit from services that our democratic society can give. It is through “Bayanihan” that we can truly be set free from the bondage of poverty and win peace in our community.

“In this present situation, “Bakwits” are ‘On the run in their own land’. They should not be forgotten because we can do something. Each one of us can make a difference; together we make change, and make a difference,” Babilonia said.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1501450098577/news-feature-afp-s-outreach-making-a-difference-in-lumad-idps-community