Alvarez, rebel datu smoke peace pipe

The drawn-out fight of a tribal leader to protect ancestral lands has finally come to a peaceful end, with Datu Gibang Apoga of the Ata Manabo tribe leading hundreds of his “bagani” warriors in returning to the fold of the law.

“He told me that he decided to give up arms because he is convinced that the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is sincere in addressing the concerns of the people,” said Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Datu Gibang yesterday in Davao del Norte.

Alvarez welcomed Datu Gibang like a long-lost brother as the latter pledged to urge “other tribe members who are still waging an armed rebellion to follow his example.”

Datu Gibang was accompanied by hundreds of his supporters and other tribal leaders in Davao del Norte in formalizing his return to the fold of law before Alvarez during a peace rally held on Talaingod town.

The tribal leader made the symbolic turnover of his firearm to the military leaders in Davao Del Norte. He said he expects around 700 more rebels to lay down their arms.

Alvarez provided Datu Gibang and his men livelihood assistance, including a pair of carabaos, a pair of cattle, four goats, construction materials and a multicab.

The government is helping the tribal rebels because they fought for a valid cause to protect their ancestral lands against illegal loggers, Alvarez said, adding communist rebels took advantage of the tribesmen.

To fight illegal loggers, Datu Gibang formed the “Salugpungan Ta’ Tano Igkanogon” or Unity of the People to Defend the Ancestral land.

“Datu Gibang’s decision to return to the fold of the law is significant because he is the leader the indigenous people in this area listen to — not just in Talaingod but also in other nearby municipalities in the province,” said Brig. Gen. Ernesto Torres, commander of the 1003rd Brigade, 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.

Unlike other rebel groups who demand greater concessions from the government, Datu Gibang and his supporters had very simple demands, Alvarez said.

These demands by Datu Gibang’s people were livelihood assistance, access to electricity and basic infrastructure such as roads leading to their area.

Alvarez said his district office would assist Datu Gibang in providing electricity to his area.

“As for the infrastructure, we could address that in Congress in the forthcoming deliberation of the 2019 budget,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez vowed to help pursue similar peace efforts with other rebel groups “not just in Mindanao but in the entire country.”