Manobos refuse to return to villages

TANDAG, Surigao del Sur, Philippines – At least 1,410 Manobos, mostly women and children, who fled their villages in Lianga and San Agustin towns last June for fear of being caught in the crossfire between military and communist rebel forces, are still staying at the compound of the diocesan pastoral center here.

The lumads have moved from one evacuation center to another until they found refuge at the “home” of Bishop Nerio Odchimar, the new president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

Surigao del Sur Gov. Vicente Pimentel Jr. has promised the 271 Manobo families that he would provide them with sacks of rice and canned goods should they return to their villages.

But talks for their safe return have bogged down many times after their leaders demanded the pullout of troops of the Army’s 58th and 36th Infantry Battalions from 15 Manobo communities in three barangays in Lianga and San Agustin towns.

The military and the provincial government find this demand unacceptable and unrealistic, saying it is their sworn duty to protect the villages from the insurgents.

The lumads themselves admitted the presence of rebels in their areas, saying this is the reason why they fled their homes as they fear being caught in hostilities between the guerrillas and government troops.