Mandaya village chief threatened by NPA - military
July 4, 2016 | 9:00pm
DAVAO CITY — A tribal chieftain in one of Caraga, Davao Oriental's most progressive sitio is under threat from the New People's Army (NPA) for refusing to support their movement, the military said.
Lt. Miguel Diordio, information officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines's (AFP) 67th Infantry Brigade, said via phone interview that the NPA has been insisting Sitio Sangab chieftain Copertino Banugan to surrender his area in Brgy. Pichon, Caraga, Davao Oriental.
Sitio Sangab is a Mandaya village and has been a recipient of numerous awards from the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) for embracing their culture and traditions even in modern times.
Diordio said that the rebels have been eyeing the sitio because it has become progressive.
"Ayaw ng NPA ng mga progsessive na mga lugar kasi nawawalan na sila ng mare-recruit. Sa Sitio Sangab kasi lahat ng tao doon, may trabaho at maayos ang pamumuhay," Diordio explained.
He added that Banugan has angered the NPA for not heeding their call for support.
"Tumawag sa amin si Kapt. Banugan, humihingi ng tulong kasi nga sasalakay daw ang NPA in three days," he said.
The NPA sent both Banugan and the 67th IB an ultimatum on Sunday that if the chieftain does not surrender to them in three days, they will start chaos within the sitio and its neighboring areas.
"They badly want to takeover Sitio Sangab because of its strategic location and they can make use of its abundant economy," he said.
Tomorrow will be the deadline given by the rebels. A heavily armed platoon, composed of 50 soldiers, were already on standby since Sunday.
From the 67th IB's base camp in Baganga, it will take around 60 kilometers to travel Caraga by land. From Caraga's poblacion to Sitio Sangab, if it is low tide, the AFP's vehicle can pass through the river but it will still take them 30 more kilometers before they could reach the mountainous area of Sitio Sangab. But when the river level is high, Sangab is isolated.
If they were to send reinforcements, it will take more than six hours.
"For now, our men's priority there is to protect the people. They were sent via chopper yesterday because the NPAs have already surrounded the foot of the mountain," Diordio said.
He added that the NPA has already burned down the welcome sign along the road.
"That's their first violent act as of now," he said.
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