Child, 3 killed as NPA, militiamen clash in Bukidnon

DAVAO CITY – Four people, including a 7-year-old child, were killed when communist guerrillas clashed with paramilitary men in Bukidnon on Sunday.

Ka Ariel “Inda” Magbanwag, spokesperson of the New People’s Army-South Central Bukidnon Sub-regional Command, said in a statement that communist guerrillas chanced upon members of the Magahat-Alamara paramilitary group along a river in the remote village of Indalasa in Malaybalay City on Sunday.

A five-minute firefight ensued, resulting in the death of suspected paramilitary leaders Ricky “Mankolobi” Bocalas and his brother Jojo “Manlumakad” Bocalas.

Also killed in the firefight were Jojo’s wife Inay and their 7-year-old child, the communist leader admitted.

The rebels recovered a KG-9 submachine gun and a handgun.

Magbanwag said the Magahat was created by the military’s 8th Infantry Battalion and the 403rd Brigade in 2013.

He added that the Magahat group merged with the Alamara of Emboy Diwangan and the Delamance group in 2015 to create a strong paramilitary group covering areas from Bukidnon to Agusan del Sur.

The crimes allegedly committed by the group included the killing of lumad leader Arman Ampildon in Cabanglasan in Bukidnon in 2014.

In July 2015, the group allegedly killed Louie Handayan and his wife Daynon while they were working on their rice field in San Luis town, Agusan del Sur, the NPA leader claimed.

Magbanwag said the group also killed 16-year-old Alvin Olinan and 30-year-old Jun Pabiana while they on their way home from working in their farms in Malaybalay City in September 2015.

In October last year, the group allegedly opened fire on a group of residents harvesting durian in Malaybalay City, killing Mariano Mankombete and hurting two of his grandchildren.  SFM