NPA presence sends hundreds fleeing for safety in ComVal

DAVAO CITY – About 1,000 residents of Barangay Langgawisan in Maragusan Municipality, Compostela Valley fled their homes in fear after members of the New People’s Army (NPA) entered their community at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

Maj. Ezra L. Balagtey, chief of the Public Information Office of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMincom), said in a text message Thursday that the lumads, who came from Sitios Lumad, Maapdo, and Caloyapi, are now staying in a covered court and a school in Barangay Coronobe, also in Maragusan.

Balagtey added they have yet to get an update from the military’s 66th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Palmer M. Parungao on the alleged presence of the heavily armed NPA combatants.

In a report released by the military, the armed group, who came from Sitio Mandaopan, Barangay Bahi, allegedly threatened the local residents, including community leaders and teachers.

It added the residents fled due to the “heavy presence and coercion” of the armed group in the area.

The military is now coordinating with local government of Maragusan and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of New Bataan, headed by Lynne M. Dollolasa, in terms of the security and distribution of food supplies and interventions for the displace residents.

EastMincom commander Lt. General Benjamin Madrigal Jr. condemned the NPA members for the alleged harassment in Barangay Langawisan, and vowed to immediately restore normalcy there.

"We condemn this NPA terroristic act as it adds misery to this far-flung community. We are taking the necessary action to restore normalcy in the area and coordination with concerned offices are being done to mitigate the misery of the community," he said.