NPA murders another Datu, military says

From the Mindanao Times (Oct 11): NPA murders another Datu, military says

Another datu was murdered allegedly by members of the New Peoples’ Army (NPA) in San Miguel, Surigao del Sur around 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

Capt. Francisco Garello Jr., the spokesperson of 36th Infantry Battalion, identified the victim as Datu Rexan “Loloy” Liwanasan Brital of the Manobo tribe, 36, and a resident of Sitio Nalindog, Barangay Bolhoon, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.

Garello said the victim was on his way home when he was shot by four gunmen believed to be members of the NPA.

He died from six gunshot wounds.

He said Brital was a former official of the Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS) in his community who recently shifted support to the DepEd-accredited IP School known as School of Living Traditions (SLT).

He also exposed the irregularities in the curriculum of TRIFPSS where their children were being radicalized.

Garello said the murder of Brital was a violation of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and the Republic Act 9851, which was enacted and crafted to protect non-combatants and innocent civilians from any conflict.

In his statement, Lt. Col. Xerxes Trinidad, commanding officer of 36th Infantry Battalion, offered his sympathy to the family and Lumad community.

“Again, this merciless killing of Lumads by the NPA depicts their group of being tagged as terrorists, instilling fear among tribal communities to demand obedience for their skewed ideologies and the armed struggle against the government,” Trinidad said.

“It also shows that the NPAs are losing their clout to their mass bases that they resort to such desperate actions,” he added.

For now, Datu Brital’s body lies at his residence in Sitio Nalindog, Barangay Bolhoon, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.

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