Mindanaotoday.com | No place to hide
Uriel Quilinguing | View From The South
AFTER two months, I knew why villagers of Dunggoan, Tignapoloan near the border of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities had to flee for safety.
In Thursday’s Talakayan sa PIA forum at SM Cagayan de Oro Uptown Mall, Maj. Gen. Wilbur Mamawag, commander of the 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division, said they are running after “communist terrorist group” members hiding along the borders of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur provinces.
“We are not looking trouble, we are reaching out to them, convincing them that there is better life for them,” said the 4th ID commanding general, who grew up in Patag, Cagayan de Oro and finished his secondary education from Xavier University High School.
Just in January this year, 86 barangays of Lanao del Norte including Iligan and Lanao del Sur particularly Wao and Amai Manabilang towns were placed under the area of responsibility of the Diamond Division.
The two Lanao provinces and Misamis Occidental (administratively part of region 10) used to be under the AOR of the Army’s First “Tabak” Infantry Division.
“But we have inter-operability coordination, even to the last unit, 24/7, with the 1st ID,” Mamawag said to avoid mis-encounters, misunderstanding, and ensure unified command and direction.
Last April 5, Facebook friend Norman Felisilda posted on his wall: “War is real between NPA ug sundalo, mismo sa among tugkaran. Operasyon LAYAS” with a photo showing people and two motorbikes with riders on tandem about to leave.
Felisilda, who has been multi-tasking as school head and multi-grade teacher of Dunggoan Integrated School for months now, wrote on the FB post thread they had to take the road to Iligan to avoid being caught in a crossfire.
For educators like Felisilda and law-abiding residents of Dunggoan, they would be assured of safety and protection, but for those who resort to violence – with the use of arms to express their grievances – there is no place for them to hide.
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