Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang
DAVAO CITY -- Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC 11) chairperson Nelson Dayanghirang lauded the efforts of Davao del Norte Edwin Jubahib and the tribal leaders in their attempt to liberate the indigenous peoples (IP) housed at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Haran Mission Center, on Saturday.
"As the Chairperson of RPOC 11, I stand with Governor Jubahib and the IPs of Davao del Norte to immediately stop the continuing human rights abuse perpetrated by the leaders and supporters of UCCP Haran," said Dayanghirang, who is Davao Oriental governor.
In a statement Sunday, Dayanghirang expressed his support to Jubahib and the Davao City government for exercising good governance and ensuring the proper exercise of law and order for the protection and best interest of the marginalized IPs.
"The Council is also one with our IP brothers and sisters whose only wish is to go home after years of being held captive and exploited by the Haran administrators," he added.
Dayanghirang said RPOC 11 supported the urgent call of the local chief executives to exercise their mandate of ensuring the welfare of the people within their territories and that everyone is safe and free from human rights abuses and violations.
"Our sentiments and support also go to their relatives who are determined to take their loved ones home. We have heard their voices, we heard them speak up and we are all listening," he said.
Jubahib and other officials went to the said Haran center on Saturday to convince the IPs to return to their respective communities after a group of tribal leaders and other IPs led by Datu Guibang Apoga trooped to the UCCP’s Haran center to rescue their IP brothers and sisters.
Davao City Acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte and Governor Jubahib had a dialogue with the UCCP officials as well as tribal leaders housed in Haran center. Duterte proposed to have a second round of talks for both camps to further discuss the fate of the IPs.
The rescue attempt yielded five IPs deciding to go back to their communities.
On Jan. 15, the RPOC-11 approved a resolution seeking the immediate closure of the said facility.
Jubahib, who moved for Haran's closure, said the IPs inside the facility are being exploited by communist groups for "various terroristic activities."
Dayanghirang accused the center of violating the Indigenous People’s Rights Act and committing child abuse and serious illegal detention offenses while engaging in human trafficking.
He believes that the IPs inside the center are being manipulated and exploited and that closing the facility would mean freedom for tribal members allegedly being locked inside it. (PNA)
