Cantomanyog

Local Zones of Peace General Survey and Map
 
Cantomanyog

Espanol
 

 
Official Title: 
Department:  Negros Occidental
Region: Negros.
Population: Sitio is a small village containing about 50 families.
Location: 150 km s. of Bacalod, midway between neighboring towns of Sipalay and Cauayan.
Ethnic Mix: Indigenous immigrants from Iloilo Province [in neighboring Panay]* speaking Kinaray-a dialect
IDP Population: 
Date of Establishment: Christmas Day, 1989
Traditional Political Affiliation: 
Trigger Events: Community was again evacuated [“hamletted”] by the AFP during the army’s summer 1989 offensive [“Operation Thunderbolt”] aimed at clearing the areas of the NPA. [Overall more than 11,000 people in Candoni municipality had to abandon their homes.] After a period in “resettlement camps” [during which over 300 people died but none from Cantomanyog], they defied military orders and returned but found the village burnt, livestock dead and few means of survival. A decision was taken never to be moved again, in spite of rumours of a further army offensive.
 
Persons/organizations involved in establishment: 
Leadership: In the 1960’s & 1970’s this was provided by the establishment of BECs+ initiated through
                      the efforts of Bishop Antonio Fortich. On late 1989 residents turned for help to their local
                      priest, Fr. R.Nueva
Supporters: Participants in the initiating event, a “Caravan of Peace” that walked throughout Negros in
                      Feb.1990 included the local mayor, Bishop Fortich and other members of the Diocese of
                     Bacalod, the Vicar General and former Defence Minister, Wilson Gamboa.
Declared objectives:
 
Relations with local government bodies: 
  Mayor’s Office:
 
 Governor’s Office: 
 
Memberships in regional organizations:
 
Organizational structure: 
   Community Meetings:
   Decision making Bodies: 
   Functional committees: Executive Cttee [2 Gvt, 2 NPA and 3 residents] to monitor agreement for arms free area. 
 
Valued goods produced in region: 
 
Local Armed Actors in region: 
 Army: 
 Paramilitaries: Community refused to participate in militia groups organised by AFP such as CAFGU’s or CVO’s.
 Guerrillas: 
 
Arrangements with LAA’s :  There was strong opposition from local army leaders, notably Brig.General Raymundo Jarque [ altough, ironically, he defected to the CPP/NPA five years later.]
 
Significant Events:  Another important trigger event was the murder of a local villager [probably by local militia] whose brother was said to be a member of the NPA, followed by the circulation of rumours that another 13 local inhabitants had been placed on a death list and almost nightly incursions into the village by unknown armed men.
 
Further Comments:

Further Reading:

* Majority of residents in the peace zone in Tulunan [N.Cotobato] also migrated from same area of Iloilo.

+ Basic Ecclesiastical Communities, known in the local language as Gagmay’ng Kristiyanog Katilingban [GKK’s].
 
 
 
Contacts:
 
 
 
Last Updated: December 2005