Army condemns rebel attacks in Sultan Kudarat province

FILE PHOTO OF Sen. Ninoy Aquino (SNA) town IPMR Emong Kantala (Photo courtesy of SNA Vice Mayor Rafal Flauta)

KALAMANSIG, Sultan Kudarat – Military authorities in Sultan Kudarat have condemned the recent attacks blamed on New People’s Army rebels in the past two days.

The separate attacks killed a leader of the indigenous people in Sen. Ninoy Aquino town, and a civilian militia in Kalamansig town.

According to a police report, Emong Kantala, IP mandatory representative in Sen. Ninoy Aquino town, was gunned down in his home in Barangay Banali on Thursday.

We are deeply saddened to know about the untimely demise of the late Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative Emong Kantala,” Sen. Ninoy Aquino town Vice Mayor Rafael Flauta said in a statement.

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“His unwavering dedication and passion for serving as a faithful IPMR and respected leader or Datu of the Manobo Dulangan Tribe will always be remembered,” Flauta added.

He said Kantala’s commitment to supporting the government’s campaign against the communist rebels “exemplifies his bravery and love for his community.”

On Wednesday, in Datu Wasay, Kalamansig, suspected NPA gierrillas attacked Danilo Englatera as he was heading home from his farm at around 5 p.m.

Brig. Gen. Michael Santos, 603rd Infantry ‘Persuader’ Brigade, blamed the communist New Peoples’ Army under Southern Regional Committee Daguma of Far South Mindanao Region for the murder of Englatera.

Lt. Colonel Christopherson Capuyan, 37th Infantry Battalion commander based in Kalamansig, said Englatera was a former rebel who surrendered to the 37IB last July 2022 and subsequently became a civilian militia.

“This brutal act is not only a grievous loss to the community but also a blatant violation of human rights,” Capuyan said.