DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / July 30, 2012) – Communist rebels have owned up to the killing of tribal leader that security officials said was one of two murdered by the New People’s Army in the southern Philippines.
Isabel Santiago, a spokesperson for the NPA’s Herminio Alfonso Command, said rebel forces killed Libontos Ansabo, who was allegedly behind the spate of killings and banditry in North Cotabato’s Arakan town.
Ansabo, alias Kumander Ibon, was killed on July 27 after rebels raided the village of Ganatan and captured him.
His six companions, including a deputy, who were also captured, had been freed by rebels after they beg for their life.
“The NPA implemented the standing order following a decision for capital punishment recommended by a People’s Court which heard 11 cases of murder filed by various complainants from families and relatives of victims, and presented with solid evidence by numerous witnesses in the communities of Arakan in North Cotabato.”
“The People’s Court constituted by the organs of the People’s Democratic Government convicted Kumander Ibon for masterminding, collaborating with the fascist AFP and implementing, using excessive force, in various cases of grave crimes against humanity, to wit, the killing of 19 peasants and lumads in 11 cases of murder including the massacre of seven family members and gruesome hacking of two children,” Santiago said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
AFP refers to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Santiago said Ansabo was also greatly feared by the villagers for being involved in various crimes, among them 3 cases of frustrated murders, 3 cases of damage to property and slaughter of animals, 5 cases of theft and extortion, 1 case of arson, 2 cases of grave threats and coercion, and forced recruitment of young men into paramilitary forces to fight the NPA rebels.
The 10th Infantry Division earlier accused the NPA of also killing Datu Causing Ogao, a tribal leader in Davao City’s Marilog district. His companion Rodolfo Latakin was also gunned down and Ogao’s son, Keem, was shot and seriously wounded by rebels.
Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, a spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division, said Ogao was the tribal chieftain in the village of Salaysay.
Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, a spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division, said Ogao was the tribal chieftain in the village of Salaysay.
The NPA, which is fighting for a separate state, did not give any statement, but the rebels have previously warned that it would attack village officials helping the military on it anti-insurgency operations in the troubled region. (Mindanao Examiner)
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