From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 10, 2020): ‘NPA hitmen’ kill 2 tribesmen in Surigao Sur (By Alexander Lopez)
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DAY OF MOURNING. A son sits beside the dead body of his father, Jomar Ignacio Engayas, 46, a resident of Libas-sud village in San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, who was shot and hacked to death by four suspected New People’s Army rebels on July 6, 2020. Tribal leaders condemned the NPA for killing their tribe members. (Photo courtesy of 75IB, Army)
DAY OF MOURNING. A son sits beside the dead body of his father, Jomar Ignacio Engayas, 46, a resident of Libas-sud village in San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, who was shot and hacked to death by four suspected New People’s Army rebels on July 6, 2020. Tribal leaders condemned the NPA for killing their tribe members. (Photo courtesy of 75IB, Army)
Two Manobo tribesmen were killed by suspected hitmen of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Surigao del Sur this week, police said on Friday.
In a report, the Surigao del Sur Provincial Police Office (SDSPPO) said suspected NPA rebels gunned down Thursday afternoon (July 9, 2020) Paquito Maca Badiang, 58, a resident of Barangay Mabuhay, Tandag City.
Based on the investigation of the Tandag City Police Station (TCPS), Badiang was on his way to his farm when waylaid by three NPA rebels.
The victim succumbed from multiple gunshot wounds, police said.
Police said Badiang was locked in a land dispute with an unidentified person who reportedly have relatives in the communist rebel movement.
Datu Rico H. Maca, the Indigenous People Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of San Miguel town, condemned the killing of Badiang.
“Without any investigation or clarification, the Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) immediately killed the victim who is a civilian who belongs to the Manobo tribe,” Maca said in a statement released Friday.
The act of the NPA rebels, he said, "manifest their complete disregard and respect for human life". "The family members of the victim want justice for his death. It is painful to note that the NPA continue to kill the IPs in Surigao del Sur," he said.
Maca also lambasted the NPA for the killing of another Manobo tribesman in Barangay Libas-sud, San Miguel town, on Monday afternoon (July 6).
Maca identified the victim as Jomar Ignacio Engayas, 46, a resident of Libas-sud village.
According to the Manobo leader, Engayas was with his brother Jimmy drying their harvested coconuts when four armed NPA rebels arrived and took the victim.
Several minutes later, Maca said Engayas' brother, Jimmy, heard multiple gunshots.
“Jimmy immediately ran towards the spot where the gunshots came and found his brother dead and soaked in his own blood,” Maca said, adding the victim sustained two gunshot wounds and a hack wound on his nape.
“This is brutality and complete disrespect to the Manobo tribe in Surigao del Sur. If the killings done by the CNTs remain unhampered, many more lives of the IPs here will be lost,” Maca said.
In a separate statement on Thursday, the Army’s 75th Infantry Battalion condemned the NPA for their continuing attacks on tribal communities and the killings of IP members.
“The Army will be relentless in tracking down the fleeing rebels with the help of the local residents in communities,” said Lt. Col. Jeffry A. Villarosa, 75IB commander.
Villarosa also called on Surigao del Sur residents to continue supporting to the government in the fight against the communist insurgency.
“We must unite to fight the CNTs particularly on their gross disrespect of the human rights of the indigenous peoples in the area,” Villarosa said.
He also urged the remaining NPA members in the area to lay down their arms and go back to the fold of the law.
“Surrender while you still have time. It is not yet too late for you to correct the wrong decision that you did when you entered as pawns of the CNTs,” Villarosa said.
The NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1108622
In a report, the Surigao del Sur Provincial Police Office (SDSPPO) said suspected NPA rebels gunned down Thursday afternoon (July 9, 2020) Paquito Maca Badiang, 58, a resident of Barangay Mabuhay, Tandag City.
Based on the investigation of the Tandag City Police Station (TCPS), Badiang was on his way to his farm when waylaid by three NPA rebels.
The victim succumbed from multiple gunshot wounds, police said.
Police said Badiang was locked in a land dispute with an unidentified person who reportedly have relatives in the communist rebel movement.
Datu Rico H. Maca, the Indigenous People Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of San Miguel town, condemned the killing of Badiang.
“Without any investigation or clarification, the Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) immediately killed the victim who is a civilian who belongs to the Manobo tribe,” Maca said in a statement released Friday.
The act of the NPA rebels, he said, "manifest their complete disregard and respect for human life". "The family members of the victim want justice for his death. It is painful to note that the NPA continue to kill the IPs in Surigao del Sur," he said.
Maca also lambasted the NPA for the killing of another Manobo tribesman in Barangay Libas-sud, San Miguel town, on Monday afternoon (July 6).
Maca identified the victim as Jomar Ignacio Engayas, 46, a resident of Libas-sud village.
According to the Manobo leader, Engayas was with his brother Jimmy drying their harvested coconuts when four armed NPA rebels arrived and took the victim.
Several minutes later, Maca said Engayas' brother, Jimmy, heard multiple gunshots.
“Jimmy immediately ran towards the spot where the gunshots came and found his brother dead and soaked in his own blood,” Maca said, adding the victim sustained two gunshot wounds and a hack wound on his nape.
“This is brutality and complete disrespect to the Manobo tribe in Surigao del Sur. If the killings done by the CNTs remain unhampered, many more lives of the IPs here will be lost,” Maca said.
In a separate statement on Thursday, the Army’s 75th Infantry Battalion condemned the NPA for their continuing attacks on tribal communities and the killings of IP members.
“The Army will be relentless in tracking down the fleeing rebels with the help of the local residents in communities,” said Lt. Col. Jeffry A. Villarosa, 75IB commander.
Villarosa also called on Surigao del Sur residents to continue supporting to the government in the fight against the communist insurgency.
“We must unite to fight the CNTs particularly on their gross disrespect of the human rights of the indigenous peoples in the area,” Villarosa said.
He also urged the remaining NPA members in the area to lay down their arms and go back to the fold of the law.
“Surrender while you still have time. It is not yet too late for you to correct the wrong decision that you did when you entered as pawns of the CNTs,” Villarosa said.
The NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1108622
