DISPLACED families have accused the military of breaching an agreement, forcing them to flee their homes for the sixth time following renewed skirmishes between government soldiers and communist rebels in Sitio Camansi, Banglay, Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental.
At least 38 families or around 160 individuals including 51 children and elderly are encamped at the provincial capitol park beginning Monday, June 4, to seek refuge and assistance from the Provincial Government.
Evacuees left their community after the military troops and the New People’s Army (NPA) fighters engaged in a gun battles starting May 27. The evacuees fear they might be caught in the crossfire.
Two rebels, including the NPA's bomb maker, as well as a soldier were killed in the clashes.
One of the dead NPA rebels was identified as Cesario Latio also known as Bobby, a resident of Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental and an alleged member of Ordnance unit of Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) 1, North Central Mindanao Regional Command (NCMRC).
Latio died after clashes with soldiers in Sitio Camansi and Sitio Bayhutao of barangay Banglay, Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental over the weekend.
The other dead rebel was identified as Guerilla Front Committee 4B’s known bomb maker, Odelo Compas.
The rebels' remains were brought to Quilisadio Funeral Services in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental 11 o’clock in the evening, yesterday, June 2, 2018.
Meanwhile, Sariza Acosta, a member of the Tagtabulon tribe who is also the group's spokesperson, said they decided to encamp in front of the provincial capitol to ask local government officials to assist them meet their basic needs and also to to urge the capitol leaders to persuade the military to stay away from their community.
“Ika-unom nani nga hugna sa among pagbawkit sa mao ra gihapon nga rason bisan sa kasabutan niadtong 2017 nga dili magpondo ang mga sundalo sa among lugar pero ang nahitabo sugod pa lang niadtong May 26 anaa na ang mga sundalo nagpahipi sa mga kilid-kilid hangtod nga dunay enkwentro busa mi namakwit para sa among seguridad (This is our sixth evacuation due to the same reasons despite a 2017 agreement that disallows the military from encamping in our community. But what happened was the military began entering our community beginning on May 26 prompting us to leave for our safety),” Acosta said.
Acosta said within the six days of staying in different evacuation sites in Lagonglong town, some children and adults have already contracted minor illnesses.
Acosta said she is likewise upset with how the police treated them when they were flagged down in five checkpoints on their way to the capitol over the weekend.
She said the police stopped them five times while they were on their way to the Capitol and said at one point they contemplated walking the rest of the way. She said the police wanted them to to turn back and asked them if they have a “permit.”
“Pag-abot sa Tablon nga checkpoint gipangayoan mi og permit. Naa ba diay permit ang bakwit nga apektado man mi sa kalamidad (When we got to a checkpoint in (barangay) Tablon they asked us if we have a ‘permit’. Do they require evacuees now to have permits when in the first place we are victims of a calamity,”Acosta said.
Acosta said they would only return to their homes once their community is cleared from NPA threats and military presence.
The capitol's disaster office chief Fernando Dy Jr. said an Army official told him that the military detachment was installed far from the community.
But he said the capitol will have to verify the report and said the Army will also check the area if it is already safe for the evacuees to return home.
“Walay breach sa agreement kung basihan nako ang sulti sa military nga dili sila magpondo sa komunidad kay kilometers away from the sitio man daw ang ilang detachment pero among i-verify ang exact location (The military said the Army detachment is kilometers away from the community but we will verify this,” Dy said.
Dy said the Capitol will attend to the needs of the evacuees and will try to address their demands. (with PJ Orias)