NPA attack in ‘Lumad’ community injures 1, displaces dozens in Bukidnon

From the Philippine Information Agency (Nov 30): NPA attack in ‘Lumad’ community injures 1, displaces dozens in Bukidnon

An indigenous people (IP) of the ‘Umayamnon’ tribe in Bukidnon was injured and dozens were displaced in the recent attack of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Army's 8th Infantry Battalion Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Lennon G. Babilonia, said a ‘Lumad’ community in Miaray sub-village, Brgy. Mandahican, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon, was in terror when armed men believed to be NPA rebels under Alfredo Banawan alias ALAB of Guerilla Front 6 and Junie Tilocan alias WATIWIT of Section Committee 89, all of North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC), indiscriminately fired at the villagers around 2:30 p.m., November 23.

“The terrified Lumads sought cover in the outskirts, while their cultural guards whom they refer to as "Baganis", could only see at the terror of the unfolding incident,” he said.

The attack resulted in the wounding of Angelo "Loyloy" Yanggahon, an Umayamnon Lumad, who suffered a gunshot wound in his right arm. Said victim was rushed to Bukidnon Provincial Hospital in Malaybalay City and is now in stable condition.

This also resulted to the displacement of Lumads. Due to said terror, they decided to temporarily leave their homes and stay in the barangay center of neighboring Canangaan village in Cabanglasan town.

The numbers of evacuees are still being determined by local authorities, while the 8th Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army troops initiated combat operation and secure the communities, particularly those which lie along the areas where the attack occurred.

Meanwhile, in a related incident, residents revealed that a kidnapping committed by said NPA rebels also took place in same area last November 19 around 6:00 a.m., involving a certain Angelito Tilocan, 22 years old, an Umayamnon Lumad and former NPA rebel.

Witnesses said Angelito Tilocan was abducted by same group. Angelito’s relative, DonDon Eyawa, said the kidnap victim has not returned home yet up until now.

"Manghinaot lang unta kami nga wala lang unta nila unsaa si Angelito. Gihangyo nako ang mga NPA nga pasagdan mi kay gusto namo magpuyo nga malinawon. Nangayo ko ug tabang sa atoang gobyerno." (I hope the NPA did not harm Angelito. I asked the rebels to spare us because we only want to live in peace. I also ask our government to help us.) Eyawa said.

In a statement, Lt. Col. Lennon G. Babilonia expressed his concern over the series of NPA atrocities against Lumad communities along borders of Agusan del Sur and Bukidnon provinces.

"This is not the first time that NPA rebels harshly attacked a Lumad community. The community reported that the same group attacked a Talaandig community in Katalawan Mountain Range in La Paz, Agusan del Sur last October 3, which resulted to the death of Rene Bucalas, a Talaandig Lumad elder.

Likewise, our Lumad brothers also pointed fingers to this NPA group whom they claim to have attacked Sitio Balaudo, Brgy. Kasapa, La Paz, Agusan del Sur last October 27, that resulted to the wounding of two minors. These communities are along Bukidnon and Agusan del Sur borders.

“We are still verifying into the NPA’s motives of these brutal yet non-sense attacks against our Lumad brothers. We assure our people that we will bring the criminals to justice, and that we will continue to serve and secure our people, especially the Lumads, if only to win peace." Lt. Col. Babilonia said.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1501448689277/npa-attack-in-lumad-community-injures-1-displaces-dozens-in-bukidnon