Authorities in Davao City rescued and sent back to their areas members of the indigenous peoples communities who went to the city to beg or carol.

In Barangay 5A, Bankerohan, at least five lumad families from San Fernando, Bukidnon are staying temporarily at the gym.

The reportedly arrived in the city on December 5, 2024, purposely to carol.

“Didto sa bukid, lisod kaayo ang panginabuhi maong naglugsong mi diri sa syudad, diri napud mi manginabuhi kay talagsa raman mi kalugsong diri sa syudad,” one of the IPs said.

The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWD) has coordinated with the local government of San Fernando to fetch the lumad families.

“Og naa untay mukuha sa amoa diri, muuli unta mi kay kaming taga side sa Bukidnon, dili mi pareha sa uban bitaw nga magpakubol kay kung kuhaon mi muuli mi,” another lumad added.

The previous night, around 43 lumad also from San Fernando, Bukidnon were fetched by personnel of their local government.

Police said the lumad seen in the downtown area are from the neighboring areas as the lumad in the city no longer go down because the local government has delivered Christmas grocery packs to their communities.

“Naa tay rescue operations nga ginahimo. Kagahapon ang daghan-daghan ang nabalik sa Kitaotao, Bukidnon kay gikuha gyud nila diri og sakyanan ang ilahang  mga tao pabalik sa ilahang lugar,” Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Spokesperson, Captain Hazel Tuazon, said.