DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The New People’s Army said they meted out “revolutionary justice” in killing the Lumad father and son in Talaingod for “committing grave crimes against the revolutionary movement and the people.”
NPA Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command spokesperson Rigoberto Sanchez, in a statement, said “weighing on the grave abuses and injustice masterminded and implemented by the Mampaundags in Talaingod, the NPA has meted the revolutionary justice that the masses have long sought for.”
“Mampaundag was no hero or benevolent tribal leader of Talaingod but a longtime CAFGU member and rabid recruiter of the notorious Alamara paramilitary forces under the payroll of the 10th Infantry Division-AFP,” he added.
The killing of Datu Banadjao Mampaundag, and his son, Jhonard Mampaundag occurred on Sunday morning, February 4, by NPA members who entered their house at Sitio Igang, Barangay Palma Gil in Talaingod, Davao del Norte at around 4 a.m.
The military said that unidentified Tagalog-speaking rebels dressed as soldiers entered Mampaundag’s house and shot him and his son.
But the NPA said the two “were armed and attempted to open fire against the Red fighters.”
A .45 caliber pistol and a shotgun was seized from them, it added.
Sanchez added, “despite appeals from his relatives and civilians in the community, (Mampaundag) pushed for building a military detachment in the area and organized Alamara forces for counter-revolutionary and anti-people operations.”
The NPA claimed that Mampaundag was engaged in selling other people’s lots and farms included in the Lumad ancestral lands to non-Lumad buyers and interested parties.
Sanchez said that the NPA unit operating in the area has “repeatedly” issued a warning to the Mampaundags to “desist from engaging in criminal activities” but they “refused to heed”.
Suspects named
The Davao del Norte Investigation Division said it had already identified 9 NPA members who were responsible for the killing.
Police Chief Inspector Wenefredo Regidor of the Davao del Norte Investigation Division bared this in a press briefing on February 7, saying names of three more people are to be included in the case.
We already have the names but we still wait for the formal complaint from the family of the slain victims, said Regidor.
He stressed that they stay in close coordination with the tribal leader’s wife to assist them on filing charges against the suspects.
In the wake of the NPAs imposition of standing order on Lumad paramilitary leaders, President Rodrigo Duterte had offered P20,000 for every NPA fighter killed by Lumad.
Progressive Lumad organization Pasaka Confederation had slammed Dutertes offer as a divide and rule tactic meant to turn Lumad as mercenaries.
Meanwhile, on February 9, 58-year old Dakula Guillermo Tiambong was shot dead by suspected NPA members at Sitio Palo 10, Barangay Camp Edward in Alegria town, Surigao del Norte.
Tiambong is the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of the Mamanwa tribe in Alegria.
Major Ezra Balagtey of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) said in a statement on Friday, that Tiambong was killed “in front of his family while attending his farm at the mountains of Barangay Camp Edward.”
The NPA operating in Surigao del Norte has yet to issue a statement as of press time.
Datu Banadjao and Dakula Guillermo were among the Lumad leaders who attended an Indigenous Peoples Leaders Summit attended by Pres. Duterte held at the headquarters of the Philippine Armys Eastern Mindanao Command here on February 1. (davaotoday.com)
