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By NITZ ARANCON
and SHIELA MAE BUTLIG
Correspondents

EVACUEES who have camped out at the capitol grounds for over a week returned to their homes in Sitio Kamansi, Barangay Banlay, Lagonglong in Misamis Oriental yesterday.

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Officials counted 52 families or 252 people who sought refuge at the capitol here for 11 days because of alleged harassments by soldiers from the army’s 58th Infantry Battalion.

Kalumbay-Northern Mindanao secretary general Roger Plana said the evacuees agreed to return to Lagonglong after being assured by Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano that soldiers have left their village.

“Misugot mi nga papaulion na ning mao nga mga lumad , human gi klaripika ni Emano nga wala na gyud ang 58th IB didto,” said Plana. Sarisa Acosta, the group’s spokesperson, said they decided to return to their village after they were assured of security.

The group earlier demanded that armed men, including soldiers, be barred from entering their village as well as from establishing an outpost in the area. They also sought payment for the alleged damages to their homes, farms, and other property.The group also sought a halt to the recruitment of militiamen in their barangay.

The villagers also said they would not allow New People’s Army (NPA) rebels to establish a camp in Sitio Kamansi. “Kon magkampo ang mga rebilde sa among sityo, amo usab sila nga abogon ug ipapahawa,” Acosta said.

The group has identified one of the soldiers who allegedly harassed them. The soldier is Pfc. Fermin Lindanay. 1Lt. Patrick Martinez, spokesman of the 4th Infantry Division, said Lindanay has been reprimanded and sanctioned by the 58th IB. The soldier, he said, would also be subjected to an administrative investigation.

“He has been placed under camp restrictions. He won’t get a promotion until after investigators have looked into the complaint,” Martinez said.Lindanay used to be a NPA rebel who became a soldier after his surrender. But Martinez said it was possible that Pfc. Lindanay was just misunderstood by villagers.

 

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