Another lumad killed by NPA terrorists in Surigao del Sur

From the Manila Bulletin (Jul 28): Another lumad killed by NPA terrorists in Surigao del Sur

CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – Another lumad (native) was allegedly killed by the Communist New People’s Army Terrorists (CNTs) in the highland village community of Lanuza town, Surigao del Sur province, said Capt. Francisco P. Garello Jr., Civil Military Operations (CMO) officer of the Army’s 36th Infantry (Valor) Battalion (36th IB) on Saturday.

In a statement sent to The Manila Bulletin on Saturday, Francishe 36th IB CMO officer said the hapless victim was identified as Nestor Hedi Trinidad, 49 and a resident of Sitio Libas, Barangay Sibahay, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur.

Garello said the victim was mercilessly shot several times at 4 p.m. on Thursday by more or less five armed men believed to be CNTs belonging to the Platoon Uno, Guerilla Front Committee 30 of the CPP-NPA North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee.

The victim suffered eight gunshot wounds on different parts of his body that resulted in his instantaneous death. Perpetrators fled toward the mountainous portion of the said barangay Garello said.

“Trinidad is a Bagani in his Mamanwa tribe and a former CAFGU assigned in Pantukan, Carrascal, SDS. As a Bagani, he is considered a cultural guard in his tribe and tasked to protect the lives, ancestral domains, and property of the tribes under the Indigenous political structure led by a chieftain. He has no known enemies but before the incident, he confided to me that he was visited a few times by the NPAs and asking him to go with them but he refused to do so,” Garello said, quoting the statement of Datu Engwan Ala, municipal tribal chieftain of Carrascal town wherein Trinidad belongs as a Bagani as he served in the office of Municipal Tribal Office (MTO) and his wife’s roots in the said municipality.

The tragic demised of Trinidad left his four children orphaned and widowed by his wife, Daylinda P. Trinidad from the municipality of Carrascal this province, the 36th IB CMO officer said.

Since the start of the Development Support and Security Plan (DSSP) campaign of President Duterte, five murders and one abduction were perpetrated by the CNTs against lumads, claimed the 36th IB CMO officer.

Those killed and abducted has a common denominator as staunch protector and advocate in advancing the genuine interest of their tribes against exploitation and abuses from CNTs, he said.

The murder of Trinidad and other atrocities by the CNTs attacking lumads and other communities is an outright violation under the Republic Act 9851 or the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) which is enacted and crafted to protect noncombatants and innocent civilians from any conflict between states and between state and nonstate actors, Garello said.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Xerxes A. Trinidad, commanding officer of 36th “Valor” Battalion in his statement, “We offer our sincerest condolences to the bereaved family. Again, this merciless attack against lumads indicates that their clout is waning and they instill fear to regain support and strength from their mass base. We will press the fight, their strategy to divide our attention through the desperate killings of innocent and peace-loving lumads is an indication of a sick and dying organization”.

On Friday (July 27), an IP crisis committee (IPCC) led by Datu Jimmy Guinsod, IP mandatory representative of Surigao del Sur with the 36IB and PNP conducted an emergency meeting at the provincial capitol in Tandagy City, Surigao del Sur to address the issues and concerns of the series of attacks against Lumads allegedly by the CNTs.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/07/28/another-lumad-killed-by-npa-terrorists-in-surigao-del-sur/