Google map of Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
DAVAO CITY--Teachers in the Davao del Norte town of Taingod who were earlier barred from holding their classes will resume their jobs on Wednesday, the municipal mayor said Tuesday.
Talaingod Mayor Jonnie Libayao barred teachers over the weekend to travel to their respective schools located in three far-flung areas after receiving a “pangayaw” or tribal war threat.
Libayao said the tribal chieftains in Barangay Dagohoy have already assured him that the teachers will be escorted in their respective assignments for their safety.
In addition, the mayor said the Army's 56th Infantry Battalion (IB) have also deployed troops in the village, known for being a flashpoint of communist rebel activities.
Libayao suggested that the threat may have come from tribal leaders who are members of the New People's Army (NPA).
“Whether the text message is true or not, I seriously respond to it for we don’t know what would happen in these far-flung areas,’ Libayao said, referring to the threatening text messages he received on Saturday following the town's declaration of the NPA as persona non grata.
Although the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has already assured local officials that there was no known movement of the NPA) in the areas involved, Libayao said he wants "to make sure that everybody is safe".
"I also instructed the teachers to be vigilant,” he added.
On the other hand, Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib said Tuesday the provincial government will grant additional honorarium to public school teachers in dangerous, far-flung areas.
Jubahib also requested the Army to provide security in the town, especially near the Salugpongan schools that were earlier ordered temporarily shut down by the Department of Education for alleged links with the communist rebels. (PNA)
