They slept by day. At night, they left. Following the trail of the river, they walked, crawled, and stumbled. Datu Tungig Mansumuy-at didn’t use flashlights so that they won’t be seen. They first carried their children then went back for the ill.
Support groups of Manobo evacuees welcomed the announcement of government officials that troops would pull-out in Talaingod to enable them to return home peacefully.
After a month of seeking sanctuary here, Manobos are set to go home following an agreement brokered by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario who secured a word from the military to withdraw from their operations in at least 11 villages in Talaingod town.
Datu Doloman Dawsay, leader of the Talaingod Manobos listen intently to the finalization of the agreement between them, the provincial government of Davao del Norte and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. The parties agreed that the Manobo evacuees will return to Talaingod, Davao del Norte upon the temporary pullout of military troops in their communities. (John Rizle L. Saligumba/davaotoday.com)
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said that a New People’s Army (NPA) leader had asked him to help the Manobo evacuees who left their homes three weeks ago because of alleged abuses and threats perpetrated by the Army.