DAVAO City — A Lumad student was shot dead by a member of the military auxiliary force Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit last Friday in Talaingod town, Davao del Norte, the Save Our School Network reported yesterday.
SOS Network spokesperson Rius Valle identified the victim as Jerome Pangadas, a resident of Sitio Kamingawan, Barangay Palma Gil in Talaingod.
Valle confirmed Panga-das is a Grade 6 student enrolled at the Salugpongan Ta ‘Tanu Igkanugon Community Learning Center .
He said the SOS Network received the report about the killing on Monday from the local villagers.
Pangadas, the report said, was watching television inside a house of a certain Andomeng in a nearby village of Sitio Milyon, Barangay Sto. Niño when a Cafgu member indiscriminately opened fire his service firearm on Friday last week, at around 6:00 pm.
The Cafgu member was identified by the villagers as Eroy Balentin.
Details of the incident as reported by villagers said Balentin was under the influence of alcohol during the incident and was threatening to kill Andomeng and a certain Umow.
He then opened fire at the house of Andomeng and hit Pangadas at the head killing him on the spot.
Another unidentified resident was wounded during the attack, Valle added.
Villagers reported that Balentin’s motive could be related to land issue or the continued refusal of Andomeng and Umow to join the Cafgu or the paramilitary group.
Balentin remains at large, Valle said.
The SOS Network slammed the government’s anti-insurgency program Oplan Kapayapaan being implemented by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The program, Valle said, targets Lumad residents to join the paramilitary group that is being supported by the military. Valle added that Lumad residents who are already members of the paramilitary are tasked to recruit more Lumad to the group.
The continued imposition of martial law in Mindanao has also intensified military operations in rural areas and targets children especially those who are studying in Lumad schools, the SOS Network said. (davaotoday.com)
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