MDM

P5tuesday | march 3, 2020

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur – Sixty-seven Manobo families in hinterland sitios in Surigao del Sur fled their homes Friday, fearing hostilities between the Army and the New People’s Army (NPA) might escalate a week after an explosion injured three persons, including a five-year old girl.

Maricres Pagaran, coordinator of the Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod (Persevering Struggle for the Next Generation) or Mapasu, said Army soldiers fired at a house where several people were watching television in Sitio Emerald on February 21,

wounding three victims including a five-year old girl. The roof of the house was also damaged.

But the Army’s 3rd Special Forces Battalion, in a press statement, said the NPA was behind the indiscriminate firing of an M-203 grenade launcher that wounded Andrea Gallergo, 55; Marimar Terse, 19; and Reynafe Calipay, 5, all residing in Sitio Emerald.

The civil military officer of the 3rd SF Battalion, 1st Lieutenant Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan, said their Community Support Team medics immediately applied first-aid and brought the

wounded to the Lianga District Hospital.

The displaced residents of Sitio Simowao and Sitio Emerald sought refuge in the neighboring sitios of Km. 16, Han-ayan and Kabulohan. Pagaran said residents claimed the military threatened to harm them if the troops were attacked by the NPA.

The evacuees, Pagaran said, narrated they found it hard to sleep at night and go to their farms because of the military’s threats.

Among those who evacuated are four teachers and 62 students of Simowao Community Learning Center run by the Tribal Filipino Program of

Surigao del Sur (Trifpss). Pagaran said the displaced students will continue going to school in the function halls of Trifpss in Sitios Han-ayan and Kabulohan.

The military alleged that the firing of the grenade launcher was a conspiracy of the NPA and Mapasu to harass the community and lay the blame on soldiers who set up detachments in the Lumad (Indigenous Peoples) hinterland communities to trigger the NPA’s “Taktikang Bakwit (Evacuation Tactic). Chris V. Panganiban / MindaNews

BASKET MAKER. Baskets and other items made of indigenous materials are being displayed for sale along the highway in Barangay Langkilaan, Trento, Agusan del Sur. H. MARCOS MORDENO / MINDANEWS

67 Manobo families in Surigao flee homes

IMPASUGONG, Bukidnon – An indigenous people’s school in Barangay Bangcud, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon has inaugurated a food sufficiency project for its 187 students.

The Luyungan High School last Thursday launched the food sufficiency project in collaboration with the Philippine Army and in partnership with the

Department of Education (DepEd)-Division of Malaybalay City and the Bukidnon Lateral Organized Development (Buklod), an organization of business companies in Bukidnon.

The project, which has five-hectare abaca, dragon fruit, and adlai grain plantations, was established to sustain the educational

and other requirements of the students of the IP high school.

The students from the seven ethno-linguistic groups in Bukidnon were overwhelmed when different representatives from business companies, Philippine Army, DepEd representatives, and media personalities, came to help in the mass planting of abaca, dragon fruit, and adlai

grain.The project is expected

to produce P500,000 worth of harvest that will enable the school to sustain its services to the IP students.

Mailyn Lagwas, president of Student Supreme Council of Luyungan High School, said the project will erase impression among the mainstream society that IPs

like her are only known for mendicancy.

"It's painful that we are called beggars, but because of our needs, we are forced to do it," she said in vernacular.

Lieutenant Colonel Edgardo V. Talaroc Jr., commanding officer of the 8th Infantry Battalion (8IB), joined the launching and said

their battalion will continue to live up to their creed and will do their best to help especially the students.

“In line with our “Peaceful War” campaign, we…will continue to assist in the delivery of basic services and other interventions to those who need them most," he said. PNA

Bukidnon IP school launches food sufficiency project