Gensanportal - Mindanao News Blog

by Ben Serrano

July 19, 2009

BUTUAN CITY– Some 280 families or about 1,680 tribesmen living in hinterland areas of Lianga, Surigao del Sur fled their homes since Thursday and Friday for fear of being caught in crossfire as government troopers launched offensive in known lairs of suspected New People’s Army in the area, the Diocese of Tandag Social Action Center in their sketchy report that arrived just now in this regional center of Caraga, Butuan City.

Diocese of Tandag Social Action Center Director Sister Lydia Lascano said they badly needed sacks of rice and other relief goods for food ration and other needs of the evacuees now housed at the different evacuation centers in Barangay Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur

Lianga town is about 130 kilometers away from Butuan City, the regional center.

Lascano said the first batch of evacuees arrived at the Lianga Community Gym last June 18 when Philippine Army soldiers started to fire mortar bombings in the hinterland areas of Lianga known to have rich deposits of gold.

It is also known lair of suspected New People’s Army rebels operating in Surigao del Sur.

Sister Lydia Lascano said she received reports and complaints from areas affected that allegedly government troopers live in indigenous peoples’ houses and allegedly coercing the tribesmen to join government created Bagani group.

Bagani in lumad terms means “tribal warriors”.

“We need at least 25 sacks a day to feed the evacuees, clothing, medicines are needed too”, Sister Lascano

Recently, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has elected Diocese of Tandag Bishop Nerio Odchimar, D.D as its new President.

This writer tried to reach Army Colonels Danilo Fabian and Ferdie Gupana, commanding officers of the 401st and 402nd Infantry Battalions of the Philippine Army respectively but to no avail.

The two infantry battalions are based here in Caraga Region.

This writer also tried to reach 4th Infantry Division Philippine Army Col. Isidro Purissima through mobile phone but to no avail.