LPE WORK GAINS GROUND IN DAVAO

As IPs tapped to foster peace in the region

LUPON, DAVAO ORIENTAL – In a bid to stop the communists’ exploitation of vulnerable groups, such as Indigenous Peoples (IPs), members of the Localized Peace Engagement (LPE) cluster held a dialogue here in Barangay Marayag on Wednesday, to orient the members of the Mandaya tribe about the government’s program to end the local communist armed conflict.

Ednar Dayanghirang, chief-of-staff of the provincial government of Davao Oriental, encouraged the IPs to assist the government in bringing former rebels back to the folds of the law, noting that the Office of the Governor is always open to help former rebels start over.

“The way to peace is not by bringing up arms,” Dayanghirang said in the vernacular.

Meanwhile, Oliver Binancilan, the head of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process’ (Opapp) Eastern Mindanao Area Management Office (AMO), urged the IPs to stop providing support to members of the New People’s Army (NPA), as this puts the lives of government troops and civilians alike in danger.

“Nag-anhi mi diri sa inyoha, arong makidayalogo. Undang na mo ug text sa mga rebelled na may tropa sa military na muagi diri (We come to you and dialogue with you. We ask you to stop sending messages to the NPAs that soldiers are passing through this area),” Binancilan said.

The conduct of LPE is pursuant to Executive Order No. 70, or the “Whole-of-Nation Approach to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict.”

Community consultations and problem-solving sessions fall under track one of LPE, the other being dialogues with members of the communist group. Both tracks can be implemented together, or separately.

The community consultation was also attended by members of the provincial government of Davao Oriental, municipal government of Lupon, the AFP, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and Opapp.

A day prior, Opapp also participated in the preparatory meeting held in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, for the province’s “Adlaw sa Kalinaw” (Day of Peace) peace-building activity, which will take place on April 20 and 21.

BGen. Nolasco Mempin, commander of the Philippine Army’s 1003rd IB, challenged members of the community to lay the groundwork for peace, for the sake of the next generation.

“Are you ready to help and support the government? That is our only wish. This is not only for us, but also for our children and their children,” Mempin said in the vernacular.

For her part, Bai Pilar Libayao, Ata-Manobo Tribal Council Leader and IP Mandatory Representative for Talaingod, enjoined village chairpersons and tribal leaders to attend the peacebuilding events on April 20 and 21, to help achieve peace in their communities.

“Though there is a persisting threat to my life from NPA members who are still entrenched in the mountain ranges of Talaingod, I shall be there during the Adlaw sa Kalinaw. Do not be afraid. The government will protect you there,” Libayao said in the vernacular. /