TALAINGOD, Davao del Norte – Members
of the paramilitary group Alamara were not responsible for the killing of a
15-year old Lumad student in a village here on Sunday, a tribal leader said.
In an interview on Tuesday, Datu Lumansad Sibogan,
member of the council of elders of the Ata-Manobo Tribal Council of Elders
Association of Talaingod, said Alibando Tingkas was killed during a “pangayaw”
or tribal war in Sitio Laslasakan, Brgy. Palma
He said Tingkas, his grandson, was killed by Joven Salangani
who took revenge against the victim’s family after his uncle, Donato Salangani,
was killed by alleged members of the New Peoples’ Army (NPA) on the same day.
Donato was allegedly shot by Luib “Bagani” Daus, Dalahis
“Carlos” Manlulugpis, and Tudtud Ladahay under one Commander Jose of the NPA
for turning his back on the group.
In a press release, the Save Our Schools (SOS) Network also
named Joven Salangani, whom it tagged as an Alamara member, as a suspect in the
killing.
In an emailed statement, the 10th Infantry Division said
Donato Salangani declared a pangayaw after learning that his daughter, Tessie,
18, died inside the Haran Evacuation Center
in Davao City ,
a facility run by United Church of Christ of the Philippines
It said the 10th ID received reports that Donato was
harvesting abaca with his wife, daughters and other companions “when he was
shot to death by a group of NPAs at Sitio Sambulangan, Barangay Baugan.”
It added Tingkas was a member of the tribe to which the
suspects in Donato’s killing belong.
Citing a blotter report obtained at the Office of the
Ata-Manobo Council of Elders of Talaingod, the statement read that
Colorot Salangani, the wife of Donato,
reported they were ambushed by rebels using M4, AK-47 and
M14 rifles at Sitio Sambulongan, Barangay Baugan.
“The council of elders resolved to
call the two sides to the office
of the tribal elders to settle the killings through their
tribal justice system,” it said.
Alamara or not?
Sibogan denied the presence of Alamara in their community
and said it was the NPA that caused the conflict.
He added that Tingkas had already stopped from attending
classes at the Salugpongan
Ta Tanu
Igkanugon Community
Learning Center
The school is located in Sitio Km. 30, Barangay Dagohoy in
Talaingod.
Rius Valle of SOS Network said Alibando was shot in the
chest twice.
“We are enraged and saddened by this incident. The
paramilitary group and their military cohorts will not stop from attacking and
even killing lumads in the name of their counter-insurgency operations, even
children are not spared anymore” Valle said.
“Witnesses said they were on their way home, walking from
Sitio Nasilaban, Brgy. Palma Gil heading towards Sitio Bayabas, when suddenly
they were fired upon in Sitio Laslasakan, just a half-an-hour walk from Sitio
Nasilaban,” he said.
He noted that the suspect is from Sitio Barobo, “a known
Alamara territory where a detachment of the 68th Infantry Battalion (is)
located.”
He said the community believes that the Alamara was
organized and funded by the 68th IB, an allegation the 68th IB
commander denied.
In statement, MGen Rafael Valencia, commander of the 10th
ID, refuted the allegations saying his soldiers and members of the Civilian
Armed Force Geographical Unit abide by the law and were not near the site where
the killing happened.
He called SOS Network’s allegation “another deceptive
attempt to put the AFP in the bad light.”
http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2016/01/19/tribal-leader-says-alamara-not-behind-killing-of-lumad-student/
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