Military condemns killing of tribal leader in Agusan Del Norte

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 8): Military condemns killing of tribal leader in Agusan Del Norte

The military has condemned the communist New People’s Army (NPA) for the killing of a “pacifist” tribal leader in Agusan Del Norte Wednesday.

In a statement released here Thursday, Capt. Patrick Martinez, spokesperson of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID), identified the slain tribal leader as Datu Ricardo M. Sulhayan, 37.

Sulhayan is the tribal chieftain of the Higa-onon tribe in the hinterland of Mimbahandi, part of the village of Camagong in Nasipit, Agusan Del Norte.

Martinez said that Sulhayan was on his way home Wednesday afternoon when waylaid by the NPA along Km8, in Balaatan, Camagong, Nasipit.

Witnesses reported that the NPA shot Sulhayan in the forehead, left and right arm with an AK-47 rifle before fleeing toward the forested and mountainous area of the town, Martinez said.

He said that Sulhayan has reportedly refused recruitment by the NPA, which might have angered the communist guerrillas who wanted to take hold of the Higa-onon village.

The military has also noted the number of killings of tribal leaders in Northern Mindanao who are not sympathetic to the cause of the NPA, Martinez said.

He said that the 4ID condemned the killings and urged the tribal community to resist the attempts of the NPA to rule over them.

Maj. Gen. Oscar T. Lactao, commander of the 4ID, said that the military would always be around to protect the tribal communities and run after the killers of the tribal leaders in coordination with the local police.

The Army's 4ID covers the North and Northeastern provinces and cities in Mindanao, extending as far as Surigao Del Norte and Surigao Del Sur.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=812935