86 Lumad families flee homes after the killing of tribal elder
CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – At least 86 Lumad (native) families from the small hinterland village of Talaandig at Barangay Katalawan, in La Paz town, Agusan del Sur have reportedly fled their homes for fear of being attacked again by suspected members of New People’s Army (NPA), military official reported yesterday.
The Lumads walked for several days in seeming “escape and evasion” ordeal, avoiding trails and traditional routes, trekking through the rugged terrain of the Pantaron mountain rangers without food and proper clothing until they were able to reach relatives living in Barangay Freedom of the municipality of Cabanglasan in Bukidnon province, said Eighth Infantry Battallion (8th IB) Army officer Capt. Norman M. Tagros.
The military said the Lumads started their trek after some 200 suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels attacked their village and murdered one of their tribe members last October 3. It was not until October 13 that they reached the safety of Barangay Freedom.
Katalawan in La Paz town is one of the farthest communities in the province of Agusan del Sur which already lies near the boundary of the province of Bukidnon.
Tagros said the local government unit of Cabanglasan was already working with the 8th IB to attend to the needs of these Lumad evacuees.
Rene Bucalas or Datu Manhadukan Sandigan, a Talaandig tribal elder, was allegedly brutally murdered by the rebels in front of his fellow tribesmen in their village, after refusing to support the NPA by allowing them to recruit and let their tribesmen join the rebels’ ranks, Capt. Tagros further claimed.
“Their fear of the NPA had these Lumads walking for several days until they reached their relatives in Barangay Freedom,” Tagros said.