DAVAO CITY – Two of slain civilians in the deadly Mamasapano battle in Maguindanao died from bullets traced to police commandos, according to a group who conducted a fact-finding mission in the area.
According to the group’s initial findings, Badrudin Langalan, 18, and Sarah Pananggulon, 8, were killed in two separate places at about the same time an assault force of the police’s Special Action Force (PNP) conducted its operation against US-wanted Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan and Filipino Abdul Basit Usman.
The group said that “Langalan was found dead afternoon of January, his hands and feet were bound.”
The two were among the five civilians who were killed in the incident.
The fact-finding group is composed of about 100 individuals and organized the Moro group, Suara Bangsamoro, Kalinaw Mindanao and the Moro human rights group Kawagib, Legislators from the Makabayan bloc in Congress joined the mission.
According to the victim’s wife, Langalan “was on his way to charge his cellphone in the center of Barangay Tukanalipao early morning of January 25 when he was chanced upon by SAF troops before he was able to cross a wooden bridge.”
Langalan’s body was found among SAF slain troops who were brought to the barangay center.
Pananggulon, on the other hand, was sleeping with her parents and brother in their house in Sitio Inungog which absorb the bullets fired in the direction of the SAF.
The group said Sarah’s parents Samrah and Mamasalaga along with their neighbor Saada Teb, 25, were wounded.
A certain Amina Kamiron, 40, had a cardiac arrest because of the explosions and gunfire.
Residents along the road of the Barangay Tukanalipao “were forced to evacuate from their homes when SAF tanks stationed along the main road began to indiscriminately fire on their houses.”
A photo from the group shows a resident pointing to a fist-size hole in the wall of their house.
Meanwhile, Saneah Solaiman, 25, complained that “SAF members allegedly divested her of her belongings — three cooking pots, cups, kettle and goods from her sari-sari store.”
The Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao – Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team (ARMM-HEART) estimated the damage to the crops at Php 300, 000, including the cornfield where the SAF’s blocking force was said to have stationed.
ARMM-HEART also said that 13 schools with 5,693 students and 124 teachers of regular Department of Education (DepEd) schools and 300 students of a Mahad (Arabic school) were affected.
Rius Fidel Valle, research and advocacy officer of children’s group Children’s Rehabiliation Center (CRC) said children “are afraid, especially during the night time as the incident might happen again.”
Forty-four SAF men and 18 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front were killed during the incident. (davaotoday.com)
