Army claims 4 tribal leaders have not returned since Aug. 1
FOUR tribal leaders were allegedly abducted by the members of New People’s Army in Sitio Bulo, Barangay Dagohoy in Talaingod, Davao del Norte last Aug. 1.
Capt. Alberto Caber, information officer of Eastern Mindanao Command, identified the victims as Datu Danilo Angcomog; Datu Laris Landakay; Datu Jovanie Angcomog; and Datu Kalumpot Dalon, all residents of Sitio Inayaman in San Jose, San Fernando, Bukidnon.
Accordingly, the tribal leaders went to the area to settle a maghat or local feud.
Lt. Alexandre Cabales,spokesperson of 10th Infantry Division, said that the datus were abducted by the NPA group lead by Alias Jose, commander of Guerilla Front 55 of the Southern Mindanao Regional Command (SMRC).
Relatives of Datu Dalun told the military that prior to the incident they saw Jose talking to Dalun to drop the case against the rebels.
The abducted tribal leaders were said to be witnesses who were willing to give their testimonies on the alleged human trafficking against legal front organizations of the NPAs which resulted to the death of Datu Lito “Lolong” Lundia inside UCCP Haran compound in Davao City.
Barangay chairman Hon. Jose Baon and sitio leader Nanding Dungutan Angcomog already reported the incident to the municipal police station on Saturday when the victims have not yet returned home since Aug. 1.
Accordingly, the victims were waylaid by the rebels and forcibly brought to unknown place.
Soldiers of 68 Infantry Battalion are currently providing assistance to the local officials.
The villagers condemned the kidnapping saying that they are already fed up with the abuses, harassments and deception of the communist rebels in the area, the army officer said.
Concerned Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) and tribal chieftains of the said town already held an emergency meeting to make a resolution and send it to the rebel leadership for the safe release of the victims.
Lt. Col. Vicente Edgardo De Ocampo, 68th IB commander, said they will help the local officials find the tribal leaders as well as the filing of criminal charges against the rebels.
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