By GERALD LEIGH LAQUINON and LITO RULONA Correspondents THE capitol yesterday said it would initiate talks with the military, Higaonons and other groups concerned about the evacuations in Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental. Vice Gov. Jose Mari Pelaez, who is acting governor, said this after over 200 indigenes evacuated from Sitio Camansi, Barangay Banglay on Sunday over fears they would get caught in the crossfires. The military has reportedly beefed up its forces there. Pelaez said he has already sent out letters to the Army’s 58th Infantry Battalion, local officials, non-government organizations, and religious leaders so they could discuss with the affected indigenes the ongoing military operations in the hinterland villages of Lagonglong and Salay towns. He said he was disturbed over reports that the number of evacuees has been increasing daily in the past two weeks. “Dili namo pwede i-sacrifice ang security of the people living in the hinterland barangays. The situation is becoming alarming,” he said. Pelaez said he wanted to know from the military the reason for the military operations, how long these would be carried out, and other details. He said the military sent no report to the capitol about the operations. “Gusto sab namo mahibaloan ngano nga puro ra mga babae og bata ang naa didto sa evacuation site. Ngano wala ma’y mga lalaki? Asa na ang ilang mga kalalakinhan? Kana nga mga detalye gusto nato mahibaloan gikan sab sa mga displaced families,” Pelaez said. More indigenes, most farmers, evacuated from Camansi on Sunday after a group of about 13 soldierselements of the 58th  from the 58th IB came, and allegedly insisted on conducting a house-to-house “interview.” Out of fear, some 45 families or over 200 villagers, fled their homes to seek refuge at the municipal gym of Lagonglong. The evacuees said they opted to flee their homes for fear of attacks. They said they also feared being tagged as rebels or supporters of rebels. During an initial dialogue among the group of indigenes, 58th IB and local officials on Monday afternoon, the evacuees accused the military of breaking a previous agreement of not staying in the village centers. A tribal chieftain identified as Panaw Tagsungod said that last year, indigenes had an agreement with Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez, spokesman of the 4th Infantry Division, that the military would camp 500-1,000 meters from their community in case there are military operations. “We have been dislocated numerous times because the military won’t respect our human rights,” said Tagsungod. He also said the military did not have to conduct a “census” as the villagers are registered voters. 1Lt. Janelle Diaz, spokesperson of the 58th IB, explained that one of their companies was merely conducting a “Bayanihan team activity” in the towns of Salay, Lagonglong and Balingasag in order for the government to provide medical services, livelihood, and infrastructure projects. After stating the military’s objectives, Diaz asked evacuees if they could give the assurance that the military would be allowed to visit their communities “without being harmed,” and that they would no longer help the New People’s Army (NPA). “We are asking you to shoo the rebels away from your sitios. You may also surrender yourselves to the village chief, tribal leader, religious leader, police and military even if your weapons will only follow,” said Diaz. Outraged, one of the evacuees stood up, and protested. “Are you insinuating that we are armed? We are merely farmers. We have nothing to surrender,” he said. Lagonglong Mayor-elect Jap Puertas promised to help the victims, and said he was awaiting another dialogue. Puertas assured the evacuees: “We will help you but be reminded that the municipal budget is only limited to feeding you during a short period of time.” Emilisa Colita, an evacuee, replied: “We don’t want to stay here for long. We are only demanding for the immediate pull out of the military from our community.”