MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/10 May) – A multi-sectoral dialogue to map out the multi-faceted land and armed conflicts along the boundary of Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur provinces were set Thursday at the Municipal Conference Hall of Kalilangan town in Bukidnon.
Bienvinido Narciso, who is among the facilitators, said the dialogue came about from the desire of the parties involved to resolve their long-standing conflict in three towns in the area – Kalilangan and Talakag in Bukidnon and Bumbaran in Lanao del Sur.
“We intend to check and identify the conflicts in the area. It is not only about rido (clan wars); this is about tenurial issues,” Narciso said. But he added that as of now there is really no definitive information on the claims that’s why they will hold the dialogue to verify the claims.
With a theme: “Ikaw, Ako Usa Ra,” (You and I are one), the dialogue is dubbed as a “dialogue for peace and development.”
Narciso said the dialogue, expected to be attended by at least four major conflicting parties, will gather the mayors of the three towns, the church, government agencies like the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and the 4th Infantry Division’s Real Estate Office (DREO).
Bishop Jose Cabantan has confirmed he will attend the dialogue. He was scheduled to give a “word of wisdom” with Imam Kusain Macarambon. Bukidnon Gov. Alex Calingasan was also invited.
Representatives from DENR and DAR of Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur will present data on the area aside from the claimants. In the program, organizers identified a certain Disurimba Samburon, Jaran Kalaw, and Col. Amor Jumala representing the Adiong clan, as “alleged claimants” who will present their claims in the dialogue.
Narciso cited among the parties involved include a Lanao del Sur politician’s family, an armed leader identified as Kumander Gubat in Bumbaran, a certain Adiong Kuta from the Kalilangan side, and a group who claimed they were able to obtain a presidential proclamation during the time of President Ferdinand Marcos for an area that includes a portion of the 48,000-hectare Camp Kibaritan military reservation.
He said DAR already distributed about 16,000 hectares to a number of beneficiaries.[]
Narciso noted that some of the claimants have been known to have belonged to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front. But he added that the local initiative is separate from the peace process involving the MILF.
He said based on their initial assessment, the conflicting parties have been fighting over tenurial, not political, issues. But he noted that if they found out it has implications on the peace process
between the government and the MILF, they will seek the assistance of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).
He said the cast of characters of the conflict along the border of Talakag and Bumbaran involving about 10 villages were also invited to the dialogue, which organizers said is the first of a series to finally resolve the conflict.[]
Narciso said the different parties have been in conflict for decades but since the claims have been overlapping it was not easy to settle.
“Now the tri-people in the area have expressed interest to co-exist,” he said. Narciso heads Abag Kalambuan, Inc, a non-government organization, which runs programs in the area. He said the resolution of the conflicts is important as no development will come in without peace.
The group has implemented a project since 2010 dubbed as Livelihood Enhancement and Assistance for Development of Tri-people in Kalilangan, a town in the boundary of Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur.
It was Fr. Mariano Chia, parish priest in Kalilangan, he said, who requested the organization to implement the project to help push for peace and development in the area.
The NGO, with the help of the local government unit in Kalilangan, has organized groups of Muslim women and youth as part of the Diocese of Malaybalay’s efforts for interfaith dialogue and apostolate for tri-people, he said.
Lt. Col. Jose Maria Cuerpo, chief of the 8th Infantry Battalion, confirmed that the conflict in the areas is about the Camp Kibaritan military reservation.[]
