Bambi closes parts of Misor to tourists

By SHIELA MAE BUTLIG
and BEN SERRANO
Correspondents

THE capitol on Wednesday closed parts of Misamis Oriental to mountain climbers and eco-tourism as an offshoot of renewed clashes between government and Maoist rebel forces in the province this week.

Provincial tourism officer Yvonne Waga confirmed that the capitol ordered all mountain climbing activities stopped particularly at Mt. Sumagaya, Mt. Lumot and Mt. Balatukan, including the Cebu Pacific Flight 387 Shrine in Claveria town.

The capitol also temporarily barred tourists from going to waterfalls and other eco-tourism destinations in Claveria, Gingoog, and other eastern areas of the province.

The capitol said the move came after it received an advice from the Army’s 58th Infantry Battalion as a result of recent skirmishes and activities of the New People’s Army.

Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano said he was saddened over the armed clashes that have now started to affect parts of the province.

He said fierce encounters have taken a toll on the Misamis Oriental tourism that the capitol has been working hard to develop.

Emano appealed to the Duterte administration and the National Democratic Front (NDF) to go back to the negotiating table.

But Maj. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., commander of the 4th Infantry Division, openly took a hard-line stance against communist rebels, accusing them of doublespeak.

If he can have his way, Madrigal said he he would choose to pursue the military’s all-out war against the NPA.

“They demand for peace but their action speaks otherwise. We cannot let them roam around and lord over the lives of our peace-loving people. Our role is to protect our people and secure their communities from these terrorists,” said Madrigal in a press statement.

Madrigal accused the NPA of brutally killing three unarmed soldiers in Bukidnon, attacking business entities and civilian communities, and extortion activities in both northern Mindanao and Caraga.

“The fact that we are hitting them in all fronts and keeping them on the run encourages us to push further and continue to press the fight until such time that they will cease to continue their terroristic activities in the area,” he said.

Camp Evangelista said that in the two regions in February alone, the NPA was involved in four arson cases, and the planting of landmines within a proposed site for a hydroelectric power plant in Bukidnon, two abduction incidents, and killings of civilians.