Mindanao’s Higaonon Tribes Declare New People’s Army Common Enemy
SIBAGAT, Agusan del Sur – Higaonon tribes who claimed they lived in four provinces of Mindanao
They claimed said anti-insurgency task force under the helm of a certain Army Colonel only divided Higaonon tribes and worst created trouble among lumad communities in Agusan and Bukidnon provinces.
Some 50 tribal women and men elders, chieftains of the Higaonon tribes coming from four provinces of Mindanao namely Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Norte and Agsuan del Sur called for a press conference Saturday to clarify issues hounding the tribes and to report developments in the holding of sacred rites Dumalondong held in Barangay Sinakungan, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur last August 7-14, 2008.
The news conference was held at the Sibagat Tribal House located near the Sibagat, Agusan
del Sur Roman Catholic Parish Church.
Tribal chieftains claimed they lost their patience already after two of their colleagues, Datu Mandionard of Bukidnon and Datu Ronald Manhumosay of Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte were allegedly massacred inside their homes by suspected New People’s Army members this year and last year respectively.
“Enough is enough for the troubles we had from this insurgency problem we had in our midst which already destroyed peace in our homes, threatened our children and families and threatened even our very own survival and existence distracted our simple living”, the tribal chieftains declared.
They urged lawful authorities for peace and order to protect them and their families while asking President Arroyo to give priority to qualified young Higaonon Bagani warriors to become regular members of he Armed Forces and those who cannot made it to the AFP be regular members of CAFGU.
The tribal leaders wanted the national government to declare the tribes’ hunting, fishing, burial grounds including bird and animal sanctuaries protected areas.
In the resolution they passed during holding of their sacred gathering rites Dumalondong,, the Higaonon tribes which lived in hinterland and mountainous areas in the provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur claimed that until now government have not declared their hunting, fishing and some sacred grounds as protected areas.
Tribal chieftains told reporters here that since tribal hunting, fishing and other grounds presently significance to the tribes’ existence were not declared protected areas, said areas were opened to abuse by illegal loggers, miners and lowland dwellers who keep on moving and migrating to these areas as population grew.
“We will sent letter to President Arroyo requesting her to order DENR officials to meet us and discuss our proposal as this has been our desire over the years especially now with the active intrusions of illegal miners, loggers and Kaingin farmers destroying our fishing, hunting and other sacred grounds”, PINILI Secretary Datu Mansaginod, Datu Man-asdangan, Datu Kailingan and Datu Mangindahay Mandahinog said.
More than 700 Higaonon tribesmen and women mostly tribal elders and leaders coming from provinces of Bukdinon, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte gathered in the tribe’s holy place Mt. Sinakungan in Barangay Sinakungan, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur to hold their sacred rites Dumalondong.
The tribes claimed that ever since their Moro brothers and sisters came to Mindanao in the 13th and 14th century and the Spaniards came in the 15th century, the Higaonons all over Mindanao have already their own way of living and governments structured in tribal groups forming communities headed by a chieftain.
Different tribal chieftains then, elders, elders and head of tagbagani or warriors through the calling of their ininays and inamays or their elder fathers and mothers of the tribes will conduct every five to ten years or as the situation arises will hold sacred rites called Dumalondong.
The tribes will not talk about conflict in the eight days and eight nights tribal gatherings but accomplishments of the different tribes from different provinces in Mindanao by which the tribal chieftains of each Higaonon tribes in particular area will lay down accomplishments after accomplishments before Dumalondong participants.
In the last August 7-14, 2008 Dumalondong , Higaonon elders and chieftains passed resolutions to be forwarded to the Office of the President, NCIP and different local government units after organizing a federated network of tribal elders and chieftains called PINILI or Pagsabwa, Paglinaw, Ito Mga Ininay, Inamay Limbobongan Ha Linandang Ha Banwa.
It simply means In English as “Higaonons to unite for peaceful homes and communities of 
Higaonon Tribes”.
The other contents of the resolution were, “government to help the lumads’ applications for Certificate of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADT) from CADC or Certificate of Ancestral Domain Claims, dismantling of AFP created Task Force Gantangan, an anti-insurgency task force which only divided the Higaonon tribes, among others including the stripping of Datu Mankumbate (former Esperanza Mayor Deo Manpatilan) from his being Supreme Datu as there is no “Supreme” ranking of tribal chieftains among Higaonon hierarchy of leadership based on their customs and traditions”.
Mr. Alimaong,
hi, i appreciated your comment regarding this article. it seems that you’re one of Datu Mancombate’s hand-puppet. hehehe. peace!!! on my own opinion, it is better that the Human rights and other concerned agencies must facilitate investigation and dialogue both sides so that the people will witness who is telling the truth. and i think the above mentioned agencies were doing that already but only your Boss doesn’t appear during the actual dialogue or negotiations. you mentioned that the tribal leaders in Sinakungan is not the real one. as of my observation because I personally visited that place, they are the genuine one. the fact that they reside in that place since time in memorial, no need to doubt. they are pure, no personal interest. they just defend and protect the mother nature and their culture not to be destroyed by the investors.
FYI, i was one who conducted case study of the conflict in Esperanza specifically the Higaonon tribe. i already talk personally DAtu Mancombate and his tribal council. my observation is they are NOT TELLING THE TRUTH. personal interest is very high and ruined the mind of the tribal leaders. sort of advise, stop manipulating the mind of the people because we know who is telling the truth. that’s an old strategy.
i really love that place. we should be grateful especially your local government officials that the IPs there in Sinakungan protect the nature for the welfare of everyone.
peace
The founding of the CAFGU detachment at the holy mountain of Mt. Sinakungan is not to against the NPA but as private armies of the PeoplesOrganization which is the Mary Mediatrix who is penetrating inside the area.. This private armies are used against the municipal Mayor due to political rivalry….I hope real people on the Human rights commission as well as the agencies of the government will investigate onto this. Those peoples who requested theCAFGU detachment at the holy mountain of Mt. Sinakungan are not real tribal leaders but the political rival of the local government officials.