BANSALAN, Davao del Sur — More than 120 Indigenous Peoples (IP) leaders and community representatives gathered in Bansalan for the re-orientation and revitalization of the Bagani Defense System, a community-based initiative that seeks to strengthen the role of Indigenous communities in protecting their ancestral domains, preserving their cultural heritage, and supporting peace and security through lawful community participation.
The activity brought together 125 Indigenous Peoples from 13 barangays, including representatives from the 10 barangays within the ancestral domain of Bansalan. Participants discussed the traditional role of the Bagani, contemporary security challenges confronting Indigenous communities, and the importance of strengthening cooperation among tribal leaders, local government units, security forces, and national government agencies.
For many Indigenous communities, protecting ancestral domains extends beyond defending physical territory. It also involves preserving customary governance, cultural identity, and the safety of communities whose traditional ways of life have long been affected by armed conflict, illegal activities, and outside influences. Community leaders emphasized that strengthening lawful Indigenous participation remains an important part of safeguarding these rights while promoting peace and development.
The re-orientation was facilitated through the collaborative efforts of Bravo Company, 39th Infantry Battalion, led by 1Lt. John Carl C. Coronel, under the supervision of Lt. Col. Hector A. Estolas, commanding officer of the 39th Infantry Battalion. Representatives from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the Local Government Unit of Bansalan, the Philippine National Police, and other partner agencies also participated in the activity.
Among the resource speakers was Capt. Jefte A. Abbe, logistics officer of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade, who discussed the importance of community participation in maintaining peace and security. NCIP Davao del Sur Provincial Officer Indalesio L. Diano likewise emphasized the protection of Indigenous Peoples’ rights and the role of traditional leadership in preserving ancestral domains.
Also present were Matanum Hernan Ambe, IPS Head I of the UBT Ancestral Domain, Bansalan Mayor Edwin G. Reyes, and League of Barangays President Arnold Mercado, who reaffirmed the importance of continued collaboration between Indigenous communities, local governments, and security institutions in addressing community concerns through lawful and peaceful means.
The activity reflects a broader recognition that sustainable peace in Indigenous communities depends not only on security measures but also on empowering traditional institutions to participate actively in protecting their ancestral domains and preserving their cultural identity. Strengthening community resilience helps reduce the influence of armed groups while encouraging Indigenous communities to become active partners in local peacebuilding and development.
For communities that have experienced decades of armed conflict, initiatives such as the revitalization of the Bagani Defense System also represent another form of community empowerment—one rooted not in conflict, but in the protection of Indigenous rights, lawful participation, and the shared responsibility of safeguarding peace within ancestral lands.
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