KABACAN, A TOWN IN SILENT PAIN

Kabacan used to be known as the home of the Mindanao Institute of Technology (MIT), founded by a Maguindanao Princess, Bai Matabay Plang.

A community of Muslims and Christians, where the Christians know how to speak Maguindanao and the Maguindanaos know how to speak Iloco, it used to be a show window of peaceful co-existence between the different tribes.

Over the years, as MIT became the University of Southern Mindanao with a student population which has grown over the years, Kabacan has slowly deteriorated into a place synonymous with unsolved killings, drugs and unabated motorcycle thefts.

I addressed this problem when I was Governor by setting up the Cotabato Anti-Crime Joint Task Force (CACJTAF), a composite team of army soldiers and policemen which provided 24-hour security, and the Crisis Rapid Response Group (CRRG), motorcycle riding specially trained policemen, fondly called “Blackbugs” by the people of Kabacan because of their black outfit.

During the years the CACJTAF and the CRRG operated in Kabacan, crime incidence was reduced and people had a feeling of security.

Under the current administration, the CACJTAF and the CRRG were disbanded and there was a sudden rise in criminal incidents the worst of which was the recent killing of Vice Mayor Pol Dulay.

Friday night, as I toured the dark town following the killing of Vice Mayor Dulay, I felt the silent pain being suffered by the people of the town.

There were no candles lit in the place where Dulay was killed, there was no vigil in the funeral place where his body was brought and there was an eerie silence in the whole town.

But in the deafening silence that envelops the town, there is a pained cry by the people for an end to the killings, the motorcycle thefts and the drug-pushing activities.

Last night, as I sat down to talk with some leaders of Kabacan, including the children of Vice Mayor Pol Dulay, I told them that should God grant my wish to be back as Governor of the Province of North Cotabato, I will bring back to Kabacan the atmosphere of unity and peace among its people.

I told them that if I have to patrol streets of the town at night to secure its people, I will do it.

All that is needed to bring Kabacan back to its old glory is for somebody who understands the desire and dreams of the people to lead them as they cower in fear.