|
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Diwalwal slay reports a misinformation drive: Lapeña
By Ben O. Tesiorna
POLICE Regional Director Chief Supt. Isidro Lapeña said the reported seven deaths in the municipality of Monkayo since last Saturday is nothing but rumors.
He said they had it checked by their men in the field and it turned out to be negative.
Mt. Diwata Barangay Capt. Franco Tito called up Sun.Star Davao last Sunday saying that another round of murders were happening in Monkayo.
A Monkayo resident told Sun.Star Davao that from May 15-16 alone seven people were already killed in Monkayo and six of those were allegedly men of miner and council candidate Tata Sala.
Compostela valley provincial police director Sr. Supt Jaime Morente however denied the seven deaths.
Lt. Col. Pat Morales, officer in charge of the Army's 36th IB stationed in Diwalwal, said only one Reynaldo Tuba, 36, was killed by two unidentified armed men in Diwalwal Saturday night.
Morales said the suspects could be New People's Army rebels.
"PNP theorized that the motive of killing is CT (communist terrorist) related as alleged for non-payment of revolutionary tax," Morales said.
Reports about the series of murders surfaced after two unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen strafed the Pajero vehicle of Franco Tito early morning of May 13, which resulted to the death of Henry Buduan, president of the Compostela Valley Federation of Miners' Cooperative.
Tito said the strafing had nothing to do with politics but blamed it on the greed for gold in Diwalwal.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte meanwhile expressed his concern on the recent developments in Diwalwal. In Wednesday's joint city and regional peace and order council meeting, Duterte said "Diwalwal is heating up again".
He assured though that the government could well handle the again brewing problem in the gold-rich mountain.
Duterte advised the miners that no matter what they will do it is the government's interest that will reign supreme.
"They have to follow what the government wants. The ownership of Diwalwal is not limited to the Diwalwal miners alone but to all the other Filipinos," Duterte said.
(May 20, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
