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)