The city government of Himamaylan says it has been a challenge to bring assistance to the affected communities as their movement is limited for safety reasons.*CSWDO Himamaylan photo
Himamaylan City Mayor Raymund Tongson said it has been a challenge to bring help to the community caught in the crossfire between the state troopers and rebels.
The clashes between the soldiers and members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, that started Thursday, October 6, have displaced thousands of residents, who have fled their homes. On the third day, October 9, two soldiers were killed, while six others were wounded.
Tongson, in a phone interview Saturday night, October 8, said that they could not cover everyone on the ground as they are following the protocol of the Army to ensure everyone’s safety.
“There’s no specific protocol. It’s a case to case response,” he said, saying that barangay officials are ready on the ground to consolidate help and assistance for the community, but it has been slow as movement, especially to the hot zone, is limited.
“We could not enter because we’re following the protocol,” he added.
He explained that there is a point person on the ground who will receive the relief assistance and will distribute it to residents in a specific area, but these are not permanent as “all are moving due to the hot pursuit operations of the Army.”
He said so far, villagers who were caught in the crossfire have voluntarily left their homes, though there are still residents left in the affected areas.
More than 2,000 residents have sought refuge at the evacuation centers, but it’s “come and go” as “they go home after the clashes,” the mayor said.
‘WE WANT PEACE’
Tongson said the exchange of gunfire in Barangay Carabalan has put lives of residents in great danger and disrupted their livelihood, forcing them to leave their homes and seek temporary shelter at various evacuation centers.
The city government has been prompt in providing the needed basic services to affected residents and will continue to assist them until they can return safely to their homes and resume their normal activities, he said.
“Because of the untold hardships — physically, emotionally, psychologically — experienced by our people, I hereby express my condemnation on the ongoing atrocities in Barangay Carabalan,” he said.
He added, “we want peace and progress to reign in our city. Thus, the city government of Himamaylan continues to work for its betterment and development which will redound to the benefit of our people.”*