Rebels kill tribal leader and son

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — A tribal leader and his son were killed in their village in Sitio Igang, Barangay palma Gil, Talaingod town, Davao del Norte, Sunday dawn, February 4, 2018.

Datu Banadjao Mampaundag and his son Jonard were mercilessly killed by rebels pretending as members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Datu Banadjao was among the IP leaders who signed the manifesto of support to the government’s peace effort in the recently concluded IP leaders summit at the Eastern Mindanao Command in Panacan, this city.

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Major . Ezra L. Balagtey, spokesperson of the EastMinCom told Newsline.ph “A tribal leader informed us this morning that a group of rebels led by a Tagalog-speaking commander arrived at Mampaundag’s residence, they thought they were military because the one talking to them spoke tagalog, who they entertained them, but the communist/terrorist suddenly straffed their house killing Datu Banadjao and Jonard.”

A source from Talaingod revealed to this reporter “Katong nakig-istorya kang Datu  tagalog man to, murag dili man to taga-Davao del Norte, (The one who talked to Datu spoke Tagalog, I guess he is not from Davao del Norte).

Balagtey said, the medical personnel of Talaingod municipal government tried to save the victims but while on their way   to the hospital, they heard a loud explosion which prompted them to defer the the transport.

Military theorized, the killing was an offshoot of the leaders commitment to stay away from the communist insurgents.

Losing the loyalty and support of the IPs means a big crack to the communist movement, whose biggest recruit are lumads in the hintelands.-Editha Z. Caduaya/Newsline.ph