anuary 2, 2025

On the first working day of the year, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs (MIPA) under the leadership of Minister Melanio U. Ulama, assisted 22 Indigenous Peoples (IP) families who were staying at an evacuation center in Limpongo, Datu Hofer, Maguindanao del Sur.

These families had fled the remote barangay of Mantao due to ongoing conflict. The situation escalated after the killing of Baywan Angan in Sitio Kokor on December 7 2024, which involved alleged land issues and prompted evacuations to the barangay center in Mantao. Unfortunately, on December 19, 2024 a group of IPs was ambushed while traveling back to Mantao to collect another batch of relief goods from the municipal hall.

This ambush resulted in two casualties, including Cita Angan, the wife of the murdered Banyan Angan. The evacuees have faced significant hardships, as they have been unable to farm or care for their animals.

The Local Government Unit of Datu Hofer, along with various government agencies, had been providing relief assistance. MIPA through the Programs and Operations Division, has once again provided essential items, including rice, canned goods, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, water containers, and other necessities, to help alleviate the situation. In addition to this immediate support, MIPA is actively seeking long-term solutions to address the challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples in the area.