(Photo from Karapatan sa Caraga facebook page)
DAVAO CITY – An Indigenous People’s organization based in the Caraga region branded as a ‘lie’ the disclaimer of the military that they were not behind the killing of Datu Arnel Nayer in Sitio Kalatingga, Barangay Banban, Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte last April 23.
The Kahugpungan sa mga Lumadnong Organisasyon (Kasalo) insisted on the involvement of soldiers in the “strafing of six Lumad farmers in Kadyawanm Surigao del Norte, which killed Datu Nayer.”
It said that survivors in the strafing would attest to the responsibilty of soldiers belonging to the 30th Infantry Battalion.
Datu Nayer was found dead in Kadyawan, Surigao del Norte “after being strafed by the military troops last April 23, 2016 at around 1pm,” the group said.
The Datu’s companions, Lino Mansumay suffered from splinter wounds, Anthony Anrique, Esmoter Anrique, Ronel Anrique, and Binbin Patusa, survived because they were able to run leaving Nayer behind. He then went missing until his body was found on April 26 in neighboring town ““buried in a small and shallow pit, covered by dirt and dead leaves,” Kasalo-Caraga said in a news report.
Tina Gomez of Kasalo-Caraga said that in a dialogue conducted last May 16 in Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte, “testimonies from victims Ronel Anrique and Binbin Patosa was denied by the 1st Lt. Amar and 1st Lt Layog,” both from 30th IB “who were not there at the incident,” Gomez said.
“To disrupt the dialogue, they [military] said that Sitio Kalatingga is not part of Gigaquit which is their area of responsibility,” Gomez said.
The dialogue, according to Kasalo, was participated by 30th IB, municipal government of Gigaquit led by Mayor Carlos Egay, the evacuees of Sitio Kalatingga and the officials of Barangay Banban. It was also witnessed by church group, the group said.
“Even though the military faced the victims and passed the responsibility to the 29th IBPA, this does not mean that they are no longer responsible for the death of Datu Nayer,” Gomez said.
Kasalo said that the families of the lumad victims who are not being attended, continue to cry for justice. (davaotoday.com)
