75 persons nabbed for burning of houses in South Cotabato town

KORONADAL CITY –– Authorities rounded up 75 persons, including a former councilor of General Santos City, allegedly involved in the harassment and burning of several houses in a remote tribal village of T’boli, South Cotabato on Sunday.

Colonel Jemuel Siason, South Cotabato police director, said on Monday the sheer number of the detained persons overwhelmed the detention facility of the T’boli municipal police station, where they were confined.

The suspects reportedly fired guns in the air and burned some 20 community houses in Barangay Basag in T’boli Sunday morning, an incident which stemmed from a long-standing land conflict in the area, according to the police.

Siason said the perpetrators, who were armed with firearms and bladed weapons, were from General Santos City.

He said at least one person was injured in the incident.

Some of those apprehended expressed willingness to cooperate and be witnesses, Siason said.

Based on the initial investigation, some of those apprehended tagged Minda Atendido, 73, as the one who allegedly ordered the demolition, Siason told the Inquirer.

Atendido is a former councilor of General Santos City and chairperson of Barangay Sinawal, the city’s border with Basag.

In a radio interview, Atendido said she has been paying rent and taxes to the government for 150 hectares of the disputed land.

She added they had sought the help of the Tboli local government to help settle the land conflict.

Siason said the T’boli police station was set to inquest Atendido and several others for arson, harassment, and illegal demolition any time today, Monday.

LZB