BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte – In an objective to end the communist insurgency, the highland community leaders of the Higaonon and Manobo tribes met with the top officers of the Army and forged a partnership to end the decades-old communist insurgency in the provinces of Agusan and Misamis Oriental.
The 80 tribal leaders of the two tribes also agreed to launch a series of campaigns against insurgency in their respective highland communities.
Maj. Gen. Andres C. Centino, commanding general of the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division welcomed the partnership, saying it is “ a big help to government security forces to end this godless communist insurgency in their respective highland communities.”
The partnership between the leaders (chieftains and datus) of the Higaonon and Manobo tribes was successfully forged with the Army’s 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion led by its commanding officer Lt. Col. Julius Cesar C. Paulo, during a historic meeting at the headquarters of the 23rd IB in Barangay Alubijid, Buenavista town, Agusan del Norte province last Friday.
The IP leaders who joined the partnership came from the towns of Las Nieves, Buenavista, Nasipit, Carmen and Butuan City, in Agusan del Norte, and from Magsaysay and Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental.
During the meeting, Agusan del Norte Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives (IPMR) Datu Bawang Eddie S. Ampiyawan discussed the prevailing issues and concerns of the IPs in the province which includes the security of every IP community against the threat of Communist Terrorist Group (CTG).
To further strengthen and empower the IPs, Datu Bawang moved for the creation of a tribal council that will be named “Masigasig, Higaonon, and Manobo Tribal Council” with designated heads, including a chairman, vice-chairman, and council members.
He pointed out that the selected officers of the council must be knowledgeable and well-rounded leaders who are capable of carrying out responsibilities such as the monitoring of the problems of the members, the dissemination of important information, to stand as counselors to the existing problems, and to bridge the issues and concerns of the IP communities to the government.
He also emphasized that through the new council, the IPs can build a strong bond with each other for their protection and in upholding and defending the rights of every IP and their ancestral domains.
“Magtinabangay kita ug padayon natong palig-onon ang atong tribu aron atong mabuntog ang kaaway. Dili kita mopadaog ug mo kompyansa sa mga NPAs kay grabe na sila ka traydor ug ka bakakon. Dili ta magpadaog sa ila kay kung mawala ta, looy ang atong komonidad” (We will help each other to strengthen our tribes so that we will win against our enemy. We will not be over confident against the New People’s Army (NPA) because if we will lose in this fight, our community will suffer), Datu Bawang said.
Datu Bawang also emphasized: “Pinaagi sa pagmugna ug tribal council, patas na ang pagpa abot sa mga impormasyon sa mga tribal leaders ug mas molig-on ang pagdumala sa mga IPs ug mabuntog na nato ang kaaway ug pinaagi ani makab-ot nato ang tinuoray nga kalinaw ug kalambuan.” (With the organization of this tribal council, we can unite and defeat the enemy.)
He also thanked the 23rd IB for the support to the IP communities in Agusan del Norte and Misamis Oriental.
“Dako akong pasalamat sa kasundaluhan sa 23IB kay maayo ang ilang pagdumala ug mitabang sila sa pagpanalipod sa kinabuhi sa mga tribu nga adunay hulga gikan sa mga NPAs. Nakita usab nako nga nagkahiusa ug adunay silay nindot nga relasyon sa lokal nga panggagamhanan ug nahimo kining tulay aron nga mapaabot ang suporta ug sa LGU padulong kanato,” Datu Bawang said. (We thank the soldiers who help the Lumads in protecting us. We also found out that the soldiers helped the local government unit in building the bridge that links us to other communities.)
Paulo expressed gratitude to the IPMRs and tribal leaders in the provinces for their continuing support to all of the activities, plans, and programs of the 23rd IB.
“We are always proud of the tribal groups because of the bravery and the unity they showed,” the 23rd IB commander said.
“Your efforts have created a great impact on dismantling the armed group because you helped us in neutralizing and preventing the CTGs from conducting atrocities in our area of operations,” Paulo said.
He stressed that a number of high ranking CTG leaders and members have already surrendered to the government. Some were apprehended by the AFP and PNP, including the finance officers behind the extortion activities in the area.
“We, your 23rd IB army will double our efforts to build great walls in the boundaries within our areas of responsibility (AOR) so that the CTGs can no longer enter your communities and so that the dismantled guerrilla fronts will no longer have the chance to recover,” Paulo said.
He also expressed optimism that the IPs will continue to support all the activities of the Army, the line agencies and the local government units (LGUs) in the two provinces.
“Let us help one another in ending insurgency so that there will be no more families destroyed and no more lives will be lost,” Paulo added.