DSWD SECRETARY. Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo (Medel V. Hernani/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo questioned the report of the agency’s field office in Region 10 on the July 30 incident in San Fernando, Bukidnon.
Posted on her official Facebook page, Secretary Taguiwalo said that she will take a stand on the report from some field personnel sent to the DSWD X office.
She said she will “demand an explanation from DSWD personnel involved why Salusad who was involved in a 2012 crime became a CIDSS-NCDDP beneficiary in 2016.”
Excerpts of the report being posted on the same Facebook page said, “we would like to report an incident that took place here in the Municipality of San Fernando, Province of Bukidnon which resulted to several damages.”
“That on July 30, 2016 at about 8:00 am in the morning, a group of armed people led by a certain ‘Commander Butsoy’ who has been known in the area as a notorious leader in the “left” went to Sitio Alimpolos of Barangay Kawayan in the municipality and caused injuries at the community that resulted to the death of 1 pregnant 4Ps beneficiary and wounded eight (8) villagers who are also 4Ps and MCCT-IP beneficiaries,” the report added.
Apart from tragic death of pregnant women, Makinit Gayuran and wounded minors, the July 30 incident, resulted to evacuation of the villagers of Sitio Tibugwan who now sought refuge at the Provincial Capitol of Bukidnon in Malaybalay City.
Read: Militia attacks wedding reception in Bukidnon (Part 1)
The family and community members who were victims of Salusad wanted him to be arrested.
Tigwahanon tribal chieftain of the Maitis Gayuran, father of Makinit, said that if Salusad will not be arrested, “he will come back for us.”
Read: Militia attacks wedding reception in Bukidnon (Part 2)
Since 2012, Salusad’s has already has warrant of arrest being accused of killing of Higaonon leader Jimmy Liguyon, a village chieftain of San Fernando, Bukidnon.
Liguyon vice chaired the Kasilo (Kaugalingong Sistema sa Igpasasindog to Lumadnong Ogpaan), a local lumad organization in Bukidnon, active against the entry of large-scale mining in their lands.
Read: Interfaith mission documents rampant IP killings in Bukidnon
Meanwhile, posted March 31 2016 on DSWD’s website, Salusad met the personnel of the DSWD Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services – National Community Driven Development (Kalahi CIDSS-NCDDP) and Sitio Chairman of Kiranggol.
With the reports, Taguiwalo questioned if the warrant charged to Salusad is still in effect.
“The field workers of DSWD Region X were able to meet him, interview him, take pictures of him wearing a camouflage uniform and sporting an ammo pouch; why can’t the local police authorities find him and serve the warrant?” she said. (davaotoday.com)
