MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – Higaonon tribal leaders and indigenous communities from
eight local government units in Bukidnon have collectively declared their firm commitment to
peace and formally withdrew support from the Communist Party of the Philippines–New
People’s Army–National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF)

The declaration was made during the historic Higaonon Peace Assembly held on June 4, 2026, at
the Impasug-ong Municipal Dome. The gathering also served as a platform to organize and
strengthen the Indigenous Political Structure (IPS) across the province, reinforcing the role of
customary governance within ancestral domains.
In a statement, the 8th Infantry Battalion said tribal chieftains, elders, councils of elders, and
community representatives from Impasug-ong, Malitbog, Libona, Sumilao, Baungon, Talakag,
Manolo Fortich, and Malaybalay City participated in the event, which carried the theme
“Deklarasyon sa Kalinaw ug Pagsalikway sa CPP-NPA-NDF.”
The activity was spearheaded by Datu Makayuba Renato Sumbongan, Bukidnon Provincial
Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR), in partnership with the Provincial
Government of Bukidnon and in close coordination with the Local Government Unit of
Impasug-ong.
Organizers emphasized that the initiative seeks to further strengthen the recognition and practice
of indigenous customary laws, traditions, and governance systems while fostering unity among
tribal communities in advancing peace and development.
By harmonizing cultural leadership with peacebuilding efforts, the Higaonon leaders reaffirmed
their role as vital partners in governance and as key stakeholders in promoting long-term
stability, inclusive growth, and sustainable peace across their ancestral domains in Bukidnon.
Officials also highlighted that the assembly reflects the growing solidarity of indigenous
communities in rejecting armed conflict and embracing pathways toward dialogue, cooperation,
and community-driven development.
The declaration carries profound importance in Impasug-ong and neighboring localities, areas
that were once regarded as vulnerable to communist insurgency due to their rugged mountain
ranges, isolated settlements, and difficult terrain that limited access to basic government services
and communication. For years, these geographic and socio-economic conditions shaped the
narrative of the upland communities as hard-to-reach and often exposed to influence from armed
groups.
Over time, however, these same highlands have become spaces of gradual transformation, where
stronger government presence, improved infrastructure, and sustained community engagement
have begun to reshape local realities. Indigenous leadership, once navigating challenges in
isolation, has increasingly become an active partner in governance, peacebuilding, and
development initiatives.

Against this evolving backdrop, the recent declaration stands not only as a political statement but
also as a symbolic turning point, reflecting the communities’ collective effort to redefine their
identity from areas of conflict vulnerability into strongholds of resilience, unity, and cultural
governance anchored on peace and self-determination. (melbmadera)