Tribal war feared after Loreto mayor's death

From CNN Philippines (Oct 22): Tribal war feared after Loreto mayor's death

Many people in Mindanao fear that a tribal war, or pangayao, would break out after the killing of Dario Otaza, mayor of Loreto town in Agusan del Norte and son Daryl.

Many feared that lumad, or indigenous, people loyal to Otaza and his extended clan might launch retaliatory attacks on other lumad members who are known sympathizers and members of the New People's Army (NPA).

The rebel group is being blamed for the abduction and killing of the Otazas.

But Capt. Rhyan Batchar, spokesman of the Army's 10th Infantry Division, however, said the Armed Forces of the Philippines would not allow any pangayao to happen.

He said the military would now closely coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure that the killers would be caught.

Batchar said the division was also helping the Army's 4th Infantry Division, which has jurisdiction over the Caraga Region where the abduction and murder of the Otazas happened.

He added it was highly possible that the perpetrators had left the Caraga Region and gone into hiding in Davao Region to escape the pursuing police and military personnel.

Among the groups suspected to have had a hand in the killing is the group of the Pulang Bagani Command 4 headed by Ka Jinggoy, whose area of operation includes Loreto town.

Police Regional Office 11 spokesman Supt. Antonio Rivera said they were also coordinating and helping the Caraga Region police by sharing intelligence information that could help in the identification of the perpetrators.

http://cnnphilippines.com/regional/2015/10/22/Tribal-war-feared-after-Loreto-mayors-death.html