Lawless armed group continues to prey lumads

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jun 20): Lawless armed group continues to prey lumads

Only less than a month after a lawless armed group murdered Josefina “Nicnic” Bajade, a 64-year old retired provincial welfare and development officer (PSWDO) in the province of Agusan del Sur, another killing incident transpired in Barangay Binicalan, San Luis of the same province when a family of lumad were fired upon by the same bandit, the New People's Army (NPA), on June 5, 2015 at about 8:00 a.m.

According to “Dodong” (not his real name), a 10-year old lone survivor of the said incident, he and his family left Purok 3, Barangay Freedom, Cabanglasan Bukidnon heading towards Mt. Katalawan, Barangay Binicalan. As they were traversing Taguikan Creek, they were fired upon by an undetermined number of lawless armed men.

The child claimed that he immediately took cover and ran in order to survive until he finally reached Barangay Indalasa in Bukidnon. There he reported the incident to the local authorities.

Upon receipt of the report, the 8th Infantry (Dependable) Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, together with the Philippine National Police, immediately conducted a search and rescue operation which led to the discovery of the corpse of Lando Bocalas (father), Julina Bocalas (mother) who was five months pregnant, Mancolobe Bocalas (Lando’s brother), while Rosalyn (eight years old), Bahanan (six years old) and Bayubasan Bocalas (four years old) are still missing up to this time.

Pursuit operation is ongoing to put the perpetrators to justice.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2761466385503/lawless-armed-group-continues-to-prey-lumads