Surigao tribes confer honorary Datu title to special forces chief

Surigao tribes confer honorary Datu title to special forces chief P ovincial News

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur - The Lianga Municipal Tribal Council based in Lianga, Surigao del Sur conferred upon Brigadier General Lincoln Francisco Tagle, Regiment Commander of the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne), Philippine Army

With the Executive Order no. 70 (EO 70) of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte which institutionalized the Whole-of-Nation Approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, the Special Forces have been at the forefront to peacefully end conflict in Andap Valley Complex and address the root causes of insurgency by delivering basic and social services in the conflictBy Lt. Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan the honorary title of “Datu Sugoyan” (Protector of the mountains) on February 4 at the 9th Special Forces “Hounds” Company Headquarters in St. Christine, Lianga as a gesture of respect and appreciation to the 3rd Special Forces “Arrowhead” Battalion’s (3SFBn) peace and development initiatives in the conflict-affected area of Sitio Simuwao (KM9) in Diatagon, Lianga, this province.

affected communities in partnership with the provincial government of Surigao del Sur, the local government unit of Lianga, and the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood & Employment Cluster led by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

S i g n i f i c a n t developments in the area included the electrification of the sitio, the rehabilitation of the farmto-market road, empowerment of the tribal community through livelihood and leadership training to the newly formed and government registered and recognized tribal women’s organization called. Km9 Simuwao Kabudangan Association (KSKA) which recently launched its “Bigasan ng Bayan” program, the conduct of medical, dental and civic action programs and the series of peace dialogues which promoted reconciliation between the government and the tribal community. The tribal council and the community have expressed their sincerest gratitude and confidence towards the Special Forces for their commitment to peacefully resolve and eventually end the conflict by being a catalyst for positive change.

“We are extremely proud to have the Special Forces as our partner that is why we are adopting them as part of our Manobo Tribe. We are brothers who fight for a common goal, to end the local communist conflict and achieve lasting peace and development in the IP communities of Andap Valley Complex,” said Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative Hawudon Jumar S. Bucales.

“It is indeed an honor and privilege to be conferred as an honorary tribal leader of the Manobo Tribe. Rest assured that the Special Forces will continually perform its very best to uplift the esteem and the dignity not only of the Manobo Tribes but of all Indigenous Peoples in all regions of the country where the SF troopers are deployed,” BGen. Tagle said.

Currently, the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) Battalions of the Philippine Army are deployed in the critical areas of Mindanao particularly in Agusan and Surigao del Sur, Bukidnon, Sulu, Basilan, Palawan, and Cotabato province. (3SFBn/PIA-Surigao del Sur)