Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo today addressed the issue of the killing of a pregnant Lumad woman and the wounding of eight others in a community in Sitio Alimpolos, Kawayan, San Fernando Bukidnon by alleged members of a paramilitary group.

Sec. Taguiwalo is taking a stand on a report sent to DSWD Field Office X submitted by a DSWD field personnel on the incident.

These are excerpts from the report:

“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 8am 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 one pregnant 4Ps beneficiary and wounded eight (8) villagers who are also 4Ps and MCCT-IP beneficiaries.”

Sec. Taguiwalo said that based on this report, it is clear that ‘Kumander Butsoy’ or Alde Salusad is implicated in this recent attack wherein the pregnant woman, Makinit Gayoran was killed when she was hit by a bullet on her chest.

In the meantime, it was stated in a separate report from the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines Northern Mindanao Region (RMP-NMR) that apart from Gayoran, seven others, including three teenagers, an 8-year old, and a 7-year old—were taken to the Malaybalay hospital for injuries.

“This is our stand: “Commander” Butsoy is implicated in this recent attack.  We have confirmed through a separate report prepared and released also by the DSWD Field Office X only in April 2016 that Salusad is one of the leaders of a community that is the beneficiary of a  proposed 3-classroom school building project that is being constructed through the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services – National Community Driven Development (Kalahi CIDSS-NCDDP). The project is in Sitio Kiranggol. Barangay Dao, San Fernando, Bukidnon. This is part of the Whole of Nation Initiative intervention for Lumad in El Niño affected areas, particularly in the said province,” said Sec. Taguiwalo.

“Salusad has been previously named as the chief suspect in the killing of Barangay Captain of Dao, San Fernando, Bukidnon Jimmy Liguyon in 2012, and now he is again implicated in another killing,” she said.

On March 5, 2012 at about 6:30 in the evening   Liguyon was shot dead inside his house allegedly by Salusad who used on armalite rifle. Witness accounts cited in a factsheet prepared by the human rights group Karapatan Bukidnon state they  saw Salusad arrived at the victim’s house with 15 unidentified armed men in military fatigue uniform.

The witnesses said that when Salusad was about a meter away from the victim,  he shot him at close range just as the latter was about to shake hands.

The witnesses then were forced to flee out of fear, leaving the victim’s body.

On June 25, 2012, a dialogue also took place in Malaybalay wherein the Bukidnon Police Director P/Supt. Rustom Duran was quoted by media during a dialogue with Liguyon’s family that they, the police, continue to pursue Salusad to serve the warrant but failed to arrest him.

“We need a little understanding. It is not easy to arrest him as they are armed,” he said. He also said that they conducted three operations to pursue Salusad in the area but admitted it was difficult. He said while they need to arrest the suspect, “we also need to protect ourselves.”

The report also cited quotes from P/Insp. Gregorio Agregado and Lt. Col. Jose. Ma. Cuerpo, commanding officer of the 8th infantry battalion who were also asked about Salusad’s whereabouts.

Salusad has admitted to killing Liguyon in an interview over DXDB in March and reportedly threatened to kill the victim’s family members and supporters.

“We now have to wonder if the warrant against Salusad for the murder of Brgy. Captain Liguyon still stands. 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?,” said Sec. Taguiwalo.

The cabinet official said that she will demand an explanation from DSWD personnel involved why Saludsod who was involved in a 2012 crime became a CIDSS-NCDDP beneficiary in 2016.

http://bukidnonnews.net/news/2012/06/dialogue-between-dao-san-fernando-evacuees-authorities-fails/

http://www.globalministries.org/news/eap/uccp/ex-judicial-killing.html