Saturday, May 24, 2008 City gives food aid to evacuees By Grace L. Plata
THE City Government of Davao gave relief goods to evacuees from Compostela Valley who are now staying at the Barangay 5-A Gym, but Vice Mayor Sara Z. Duterte said the city cannot continue to support them for the undetermined period of their stay.
"The lumads are from ComVal brought to the city by Bayan. This is according to Barangay Captain Edgar Ibuyan. They asked permission from him to use the gym although Bayan did not inform the city beforehand of this," Duterte said.
Based on the figures given to her by Ibuyan, the vice mayor said the total count has reached 557 -- 449 adults, 83 children. There are also 25 adults who arrived from Boston, Davao Oriental recently.
"Majority of them are evacuees, some are supporters of the evacuees and some are here for the burial of Celso Pojas," Duterte said.
Slain militant leader Celso Pojas was laid to rest Friday.
Duterte said about 300 will head home after the burial, while those who will be left behind still do not know when they can come home.
In an earlier interview with Pasaka Spokesperson Kerlan Fanagel, the evacuees have committed not to leave Davao City their home until the government agrees to stop military operations in their barangays in Compostela Valley.
The barangay people sought refuge in the city after alleged harassment from the military.
