THE Provincial Capitol and representatives of Higaonon evacuees and third party facilitators will be conducting a fact-finding mission at Sitio Mincamansi, Banglay village, Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental, on Friday, April 7, to ensure that the community is free from both communist rebels and government soldiers.
Capitol spokesperson Nicole Managbanag said based on Thursday's dialogue between the Provincial Government and the evacuees, it was agreed that an ocular inspection will be made first before the displaced families are ferried back to their homes.
The fact-finding team is composed of personnel from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), four representatives of the evacuees, and the third party facilitators including leaders of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI).
Some 37 families fled their homes a week ago for fear of being caught in the fighting between government troops and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the area.
The evacuees set up camp at the Dela Park at the Capitol grounds.
Among the demands of the evacuees is for a written agreement for the military to leave their community.
"Nanawagan mi nga papahawaon na ang mga military sa among komunidad aron makapauli nami sa amoa (We call on the military to leave so we can go back home)," the evacuees said.
"Naay report nga wala nay presence sa sundalo sa area pero tumong sa fact-finding nga masiguro kung safe na ba nga mouli ang mga bakwit (There are reports that the military has left but we want to make sure that is why we are sending a fact-finding mission)," Managbanag said.
Managbanag also said the displaced villagers wanted to return to their homes to take part in the graduation ceremonies of their children.
Managbanag said that four children were brought to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) due to indigestion and the Misamis Oriental Cares takes care of their medical expenses.
Of the four children, only the 9-year-old kid remains admitted and the three have already been discharged.
The spokesperson of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) on Thursday said military operations will continue even after government negotiators and the National Democratic Front (NDF) agree on an interim joint ceasefire during the fourth round of peace talks in Noordwijk, the Netherlands.
Captain Joe Patrick Martinez, 4ID spokesperson, said not unless the president, being the Army's commander-in-chief, gives his word directing the military to cease operations, pursuing the communist rebels remains their mandate.
The interim joint ceasefire will take effect until a permanent ceasefire is forged as part of the final peace agreement.
But Martinez said as long as the NPA rebels are sighted in an area, the military will do their mandate to pursue the Maoist guerrillas.
Martinez said the evacuees themselves should appeal to the rebels not to infiltrate their community.
"Ilang allegation nga nagpondo ang sundalo. Ang mga NPA man ang nagpondo busa sa NPA sila makigpirma and urged the NPA na wag pumunta sa kanila (They say soldiers are camped in their community but actually it’s the NPA. They should ask the NPA not to come to their community)," Martinez said.
"Di pwedeng makikita ang NPA doon tapos walang gawin ang Army. Pag naa ang NPA moadto gayud ang sundalo ug pag dili mohawa ang mga NPA dili sad mohawa ang mga sundalo (The Army could not just stand idle when they see the NPA. And if the NPA won’t leave, the soldiers won’t either)," Martinez added.