‘Lumad’ evacuee survives stabbing by unidentified men

DAVAO CITY, Philippines–A lumad evacuee taking refuge in the Haran compound of the United Church of Christ of the Philippines (UCCP) has been stabbed by two unidentified men at 1 p.m. Wednesday, the militant lumad group Pasaka reported.

Jong Monzon, secretary-general of Pasaka-Southern Mindanao, said Botchoy Tumagsa, 18, was on his way to the Haran compound after buying goods from the market, when two unidentified men stabbed him with icepicks.

Tumagsa was able to run from the suspects.

Pasaka also reported that teachers affiliated with the group Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Inc. (Misfi) holding lumad classes at the evacuation center also complained of being trailed by men on motorcycles while on their way back to Haran from the University of the Immaculate Conception.

“The same men who trailed the teachers were also seen in the vicinity of Haran, where they were seen monitoring the classes being held for lumad evacuees in the compound,” Monzon said. Germelina Lacorte, Inquirer Mindanao/TVJ