2 Lumads killed by NPA rebels in Bukidnon –military

Two members of a Lumad community in Valencia City, Bukidnon, were killed by suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels, an Army official said Monday.

In an interview, Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez, 4th Infantry Division public affairs officer, said the men, who were brothers, were killed by NPA members from Guerilla Front 68 on Sunday while they were hunting a wild animal at Sitio Napilit in Barangay Lilingayon.

The victims were identified as Reymond Dayo Licanay and Roy Dayo Licanay, residents of Sitio Tandakol, also in the same barangay.

The brothers were killed at around 8 a.m. and their bodies were found at 5 p.m. since the mountain was a bit far from the village.

Citing information from the local police, Martinez said the victims "were brutally tortured" before they were shot.

"May empty shells ng AK-47 at M-14 'yung nakita du'n sa cadaver ng dalawa. 'Yun 'yung ginamit na pagpatay," he said, adding that the bullets used were part of evidence that the guerilla group is behind the killing.

Quoting the tribal chief, Datu Uba Lukbay Bayawon, an uncle of the victims, he added that the NPA in the area had long courted the brothers to join their group.

"Sabi niya (Datu Bayawon), 'Matagal na kasing nire-recruit 'yan ng NPA, kaming lahat dito, pero 'yan talaga pursigido 'yung NPA dito sa dalawa,'" Martinez said.

He added: "Parang tinatanggihan nila, ayaw nila, kasi ayaw mapailalim sa NPA. Nainis na 'yung NPA, du'n na sila pinatay sa bundok kahapon. Galit na galit si Datu."

The tribal chief tagged the incident as a "hate crime," Martinez said. He also pointed out that an examination conducted by the Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) showed that the victims had fractured bones and bruises.

The family of the victims has filed a case regarding the incident, and would also submit an affidavit on various incidents where the NPA rebels were coercing them to join the group. —Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/KBK, GMA News