EVACUEES from Sitio Camansi, Banglay, in Lagonglong town, Misamis Oriental want Governor Yevgeny Emano to face them and tell them whether or not the provincial government can act on their demands.
Datu Reynaldo Ayuma, chairman of Tagtabolon tribal group, said since the start of their encampment at the Capitol park two weeks ago, the top officials of the provincial government have not showed up to listen to their sentiments.
At least 38 families from the said community were displaced due to the armed conflict between the government soldiers and the communist rebels.
Ayuma said they want to hear straight from the governor’s mouth if the capitol can solve and address the problem.
"Sixteen days na mi dinhi wala nagpakita ang gobernador ug bise-gobernador kay siya ang among giasahan nga makatabang kanamo nga unta ihatag na ang ilang decision kung unsaon nga masulbad ni nga problema kay lisod na ang among kahimtang dinhi nga makahuna-huna kami nga daw gahinay-hinayon na kamig patay,"Ayuma said.
The group's spokesperson Sariza Acosta said the first dialogue with the military and some of the capitol office's heads last June 8 failed as the military did not heed to their demands to pull out from their community so they can return home.
And much to their surprise, they were dismayed to learn that the government troops have reportedly completed mounting the detachment in their community.
Acosta said it was agreed during the first dialogue that military detachment should not be built pending the succeeding dialogues.
"Nadismaya mi kay nahibal-an namo nga nahuman na ang military detachment nga wala pa man nagkasinabot kay gapaabot pa sa ikaduhang dialogue,"Acosta said.
"Wala makapaabot ang military ug walay panugot namong mga lumad nga magtukod sa ilang kampo busa nanawagan kami kang governor Bambi nga atubangon nami ug prangkahan kung unsaon nga masulbad nani nga problema,"she added.
Datu Jomorito Goaynon, chairman of the Kalumbay lumad organization, also challenge the Emano leadership, the local government of Lagonglong town and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to seriously take the problem of the evacuees and implement the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA).
"Hagit namo sa kapitolyo nga mobarog ug motuman sa balaod. Kung tinuod nga lahi ang martial law ni Presidente Digong kinahanglan ilang aksyonan ang problema pero kung moingon sila nga parehas ang martial law kang Marcos nan maghimo sila'g position paper nga mag-ingon nga wala silay matabang tungod kay balaod militar ang naghari ug dili civilian authority kana modawat mi ana,"Goaynon said.