Eskaya domains off-limits
to terrorist insurgents”
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Nov 7 (PIA) – The Eskaya Community, one that zealously protects its ancestral domains backed by the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) is strictly off limits to communist insurgents.
This was the categorical statement issued by Eskaya tribal chieftain of the Taytay Duero community, Hilario Galambao, during the Bisita sa Eskaya Community Immersion of Bohol’s information Officers.
Galambao, who also had a very long stint as the barangay chairman years back, cited Republic Act 8371 or the Law recognizing, protecting and promoting the rights of indigenous communities and peoples, which hands them the rights to deny and regulate the entry of migrants to their ancestral land.
Settled in the mountain tops of Duero, the Taytay Community of the Eskaya nests in a valley shielded by tall mountains and cliffs, its only access is by a single lane concrete path that winds through forests and carved out from the cliff sides on to the village center where a tribal house is among the most prominent structures.
Due to its being in a remote location, and surrounded by thick forests, many have feared that armed insurgents who are now trying to regain their lost mass base might venture into this pristine region and start recruiting tribe members into their ranks.
No, it has not happened and it will never happen, Galambao was insistent as old men, apparently among his council of advisers, listened.
“Ginadili ang pagsuroy-suroy sa among lugar kon walay papeles o pagtugot gikan sa opisina sa Tribu. Kon inyo supakon, isumbong kamo sa opisina sa tribu,” (Loitering around in our territories without proper documents and without the express consent from our office is strictly prohibited. Anyone trespassing would be reported to the office of the tribe,) the former barangay chairman during the Martial Law years mouthed the signage that the tribe posted in a prominent place in the tribal house.
The tribal posted warning also includes prohibition in hunting all animals and gathering of wildlife in the forests, harvesting of swifts nests and birds in the caves and crevices within the ancestral domain.
Punishment for those who are caught, according to Galambao and citing the applicable law, is 8 to 12 years of imprisonment and a penalty reaching P1 million pesos.
During the forum with the tribe, 47th Infantry Battalion information Officer 1Lt Elma Grace Remonde-Abulencia also reminded the tribe of the potential entry of people in disguise but intend to recruit and instigate the people to act against the government.
She also elaborated on the accusation that the military was red-tagging party list organizations, as a counter move to let people know about the nature of the leftist organizations and how they are using government resources to extend their fight against the government.
Meanwhile, the information officers members of the Association of United Development Information Officers, who came in to the village with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) talked with the tribal leaders and brought in frontline government services to the remote village.
The visitors also handed in boxes of face masks and face shields to help protect the community from infection by coronavirus disease, which has already reached Sierra Bullones, some few kilometers from the village.
The Eskaya has survived the threat of COVID-19 in the past 8 months without any of their members getting the virus. (rahchiu/PIA_7/Bohol)
CHIEF’S ADVISERS. Taytay Eskaya Tribal leader Hilario Galambao scans a brochure which the visiting government agencies distributed to the community to announce the frontline government services that the tribe can get from the government. Galambao declared that their ancestral domains whicn comprise the over 3,000 hectares of lands in the barangays of Taytay, Duero; Cantaub, Sierra Bullones; Biabas Guinduman and Lundag Pilar are off limits to communist insurgents. /PIA-7/Bohol)
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