AN OFFICIAL of the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental said they cannot force the military to pull out of the Sitio Camansi, Banglay, Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental as demanded by the evacuees who have been staying at the capitol grounds for more than two weeks now.
Provincial Risk Reduction and Management office head Fernando Dy Jr. clarified this amid talks that the evacuees plan to stay at the grounds indefinitely or until the military pulls out from their community.
"We are going to elevate this problem kay national naman naa, national scope nga papahawon ang military especially karon nga panahon martial law (We are going to elevate this problem because it is of national scope, that we drive away the military especially now that it is martial law). We can only recommend but we couldn't decide for the military or labina gyod sa national defense kay lisod kaayo (especially for the national defense it's difficult," Dy said.
He explained negotiations of the previous evacuations of the Lagonglong residents are much easier.
Dy said it is more difficult to negotiate now with the military because Mindanao is under martial law.
Dy, however, clarified that they are “grateful” that the military is still willing to listen to the evacuees and the province's concerns.
"Hopefully gagmayng nga problema ma-iron out ra (Hopefully we can iron out these problems). Nanghinaot ko naay kausabahan ug labaw sa tanan duna na gyod untay kaayohan sa sunod nga dayalogo (We hope that there will be change and the next dialogue will have much better output)," he added.
Dy vowed that the province will continue assisting the evacuees in terms of food supply.
Lieutenant Colonel Roy Anthony Derilo, commanding officer sa 58th Infantry Battalion, said he cannot give in to the demands of the evacuees, pointing out that the troops are in the area to ensure the safety of the workers who will build bridges and roads in Sitio Camansi.
"I will not give in to that demand because majority of the Camansi residents actually want us in the area, the Camansi people residing in capitol does not represent the entire community," Derilo said.
Derilo also pointed out that some families living in the capitol grounds are already talking and coordinating with them to go home safely.
"Mga 4 to 5 families nalang ang hawak diyan ng mga legal organizations ng komunista (Only about four or five families there are under the influence of the legal front of the communists)," the Army officer said.