NPA murders former Barangay Chairman

Panacan, Davao City – Another civilian was inhumanely murdered by 10 NPA rebels under Guerilla Front 54 at crossing Lumundao, Barangay Marilog, Marilog District, Davao City early today at 9am.

The victim who sustained gunshot wounds was identified as Mr. Canoto Lumbayon, a former Barangay Chairman of Salaysay, Marilog District.

Lumbayon was on his way home from Calinan, on-board a motorcycle, together with Celso Agumay, a CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA) and Ernesto Sauyan, a member of the Civilian Volunteer Organization (CVO) of Salaysay when NPA rebels simultaneously fired towards them.

CAA Agumay who was unarmed also sustained fatal wounds that caused his instantaneous death. The latter was on his off-duty and on his way home to attend to the needs of his family. Sauyan, on the other hand, was wounded and presently undergoing treatment at Davao Medical Center.

Yesterday, July 22 at 10:30am, the NPA bandits also murdered Juan Bacharo, a Purok Leader of Barangay Banlag in Monkayo Compostella Valley and two unarmed soldiers who were facilitating the delivery of development projects in the said barangay.

At 1:30pm of same day, about seven NPA bandits, under Sentro de Grabidad (SDG), Guerilla Front 20 (GF), burned a 10-wheeler truck at Sitio Mahu, Barangay Aragon, Cateel, Davao Oriental. Said truck, owned by Maverick Construction, was flagged down while delivering supplies to development projects implemented in the area. The said company was reportedly receiving threats and extortion demands but refused to give in.

Major General Reynaldo B Mapagu, Commander of 10th Infantry Division, vehemently condemned the recent atrocities perpetrated by NPA, “It is clear enough that these criminals are anti-people and anti-development. Treacherous attacks are what they can easily do now because they cannot face the reality that they have already lost their mass base support.”

“Just like Evelyn Pitao, the sister of a well-known NPA leader in the region, they easily killed these innocent people who are public servants, law-abiding citizens and who desire to live a peaceful life in a more improved environment. These bandits are the ones who repeatedly abuse the basic rights of the people,” Mapagu added.