By BONITA ERMAC
Correspondent
PANTAR, LANAO DEL NORTE — Residents, who have been displaced for three months already due to the continuing clash of two political leaders, are crying for help to President Benig-no Aquino III in a gathering held at the Madrasah School on Saturday, October 10.
At least 170 families have evacuated at the arabic school while 80 families stayed near the Pantar bridge, while others still fled to their relatives in Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro and Manila to avoid the chaos said Association of Barangay Councils President Abraham Gabriel.
Six evacuees were reported killed due to extreme fear from the armed clashes which resulted to a nervous breakdown, Ga-briel added.
Gabriel said they have so far listed some nine barangays affected (1,410 families and 7,759 dependents) by the August 26 political armed clashes.
The residents are requesting the direct intervention of Aquino to immediately resolve the political crisis in their town which has turned from bad to worse.
“Mr. President please intervene, tulungan niyo at resulbahin ang political crisis ng Pantar Lanao Del Norte, ayaw namin ng gulo,” the residents’ collective statement reads in part.
Sittie Mariam Adato, 59 years old, told the Gold Star Daily that she wants to go back to their home.
“Tulungan niyo kami na mahinto na ang gyera para maka-uwi na kami sa aming mga bahay at makabalik sa pag-aaral ang mga anak namin,” said Adato.
Adato has 12 children and her husband was one of the six fatalities 15 days ago.
Lt. Colonel Anthon Abrina, commander of the 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion said the situation has been deteriorating since the two warring political warlords are now neighbors.
Vice Mayor Mangon-daya Tago used to live in Punud District while Mayor Mohammad Exchan Lim-bona now lives in Poblacion.
The clashes have turned Pantar into a virtual ghost where its establishments have closed and its residents fled the town.
It might be recalled that the schism was borne from a Supreme Court ruling favoring Limbona last August 24.
In an entry of Judgement dated June 16, the high court upheld the Commission on Elections (Co-melec) resolution issued on March 24 which dismissed the disqualification complaint against Limbona.
Limbona, who was elec-ted punong barangay of Barangay Kalanganan Lo-wer of Pantar Town, and his wife, the municipal mayor Norlaine Mitmug Limbona were found by the Ombudsman to be administratively liable for Grave Misconduct, Oppression, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best interest of the service.
However, Limbona was elected Mayor on May 10, 2010 and re-elected in the May 2013 midterm elections.
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