Besao condemns summary killing of Baguio student

From the Baguio Midland Courier (Jan 28): Besao condemns summary killing of Baguio student

Officials of Besao, Mountain Province led residents in condemning the summary killing of their villagemate, who is also a Baguio resident, on Jan. 10.
The town officials through Resolution 1, s. 2015 said the summary execution of Rufino Posdo alias Kak-eo is unacceptable to the peace-loving villagers of Besao.

“All the barangay officials, the people of Besao, and this council condemn the undeserved killing of Posdo. (This) is a clear violation of indigenous laws, human rights, and due process,” reads the resolution signed by the 10 councilors and Vice Mayor Harry Baliaga, Sr.

No group has claimed responsibility over Posdo’s killing but a high-placed source from the Intelligence Unit of Cordillera Police Regional Office said it was the handiwork of the underground movement.

Posdo, who is a resident of Kias, Baguio, went home to Besao recently to help in the construction of his son’s house at Barangay Tamboan.

On Jan. 10, an armed group went to Posdo’s farm at Lobo, where they chanced upon the victim and his wife.

The victim was later taken from his farm hut by the armed group on allegations that he has committed crimes several years ago.

A female member of the armed group has informed the victim’s wife that her husband will not return alive. The punong barangay of Tamboan was later informed that Posdo was killed by the armed group.

Besao officials forwarded the resolution to the Mountain Province Provincial Peace and Order Council and other concerned agencies such as the Philippine National Police for action.

Last month, close to 500 students and teachers led residents in condemning the ambush that killed two soldiers and wounding of five more in nearby Sagada on Nov. 30, 2014.

The New People’s Army is suspected to be responsible for the Bonifacio Day ambush.

Since 1986, Sagada has been declared as a peace zone. Government forces and the NPA vowed to respect the town to be off-limits to combat.

But over the years, the town had several ambush incidents, greatly affecting its socio-economic activities, especially the tourism sector,  which is the backbone of the town’s economy.

http://baguiomidlandcourier.com.ph/mtprovince.asp?mode=%20archives/2015/january/1-25-2015/mtp1.txt