Some evacuees at Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental have expressed concern over their safety.
Barangay Carabalan chief Mildred Titular said only tanods are securing the area.
She said that 192 families or 451 individuals are currently staying at the open village gym in the upland area.
She also said that other residents don’t stay at the gym because it’s too hot.
Sitio Sig-ang leader Melvin Parcon aid he was worried as they left their livelihood when they sought refuge, as he lamented what will happen to them if the situation continues. “Indi na ka trespaser (it could not sustain us),” he added.
He said they initially thought that the gunfire was fireworks, but when the burst continued, they knew the situation was getting serious. He said that all 90 families hurried to the barangay gym for safety.
He said, “bisan indi kami kakaon mayo na sud-an, bisan uga lang, basta tawhay and wala ka sang kulba, mas bentaha tani (even if we can’t eat good food, even if we only eat dried fish, as long as there is peace and no fear, that would better).”
Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao, who distributed food packs at the Barangay Carabalan gym, said the village is close to their heart because his late uncle was the first barangay captain there.
He said the primary concern of the evacuees is the livestock they left behind, how long this is going to take, but they were thankful for the response of the government.
Based on the security briefing Thursday, Gatuslao said the Army have identified several sitios where the situation has “normalized”.
The clashes between the military and the fleeing rebels so far have led to the deaths of two soldiers and one ranking New People’s Army leader, and affected more than 18,000 residents.
Himamaylan has also declared a state of calamity early this week.*