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Saturday, September 25, 2004
Anti-communist leader's house bombed; 2 hurt
By Joy G. Romares
TWO loud explosions from grenades lobbed by motorcycle-riding men at the house of a known anti-communist lumad leader jolted awake residents of Cabantian, Buhangin, Friday dawn and injured the leader's driver and bodyguard.
The explosions rocked the low-cost housing subdivision of Emily Homes at around 4:30 a.m.
Injured were Rolando Manulat, 28, a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) of the 73rd Infantry Battalion, the bodyguard of lumad leader Ruben Labawan; and Labawan's driver Nestor "Dodong" Alolor, 26, a resident of San Juan in Agdao.
Manulat is in critical condition at the Davao Medical Center (DMC) with wounds in his right thigh and waist, while Alolor has shrapnel wounds on his back.
"Naghigda ko sa bangko unya si Manulat natulog sa duyan (I was sleeping on a bench while Manulay was in a hammock)," Alolor said.
Police investigator Alfredo Rubrico of the Buhangin Police Precinct said the two were sleeping on the second floor of the house that was still under construction although already occupied, when they were attacked.
Labawan is the president of the Ata Tribal Association of Davao Incorporated (Atadi) and a lumad leader staunchly against the New People's Army in Paquibato district, this city.
Alolor said he caught a glimpse of the men as they sped off in a motorcycle. They were wearing bonnets, he said.
"Wala naunsa ang balay kay sa may guardhouse ra man giitsa ang granada (The house was not damaged because the grenades were thrown at the guardhouse)," Alolor said.
Police recovered two safety levers of still undetermined kind of hand grenade.
Captain Cinco of the Task Force Davao, which was among the authorities investigating the incident, believes this has something to do with Labawan's advocacy against communist rebels.
"Mura'g related ni sa pakigbisog sa Alsa Lumad against the NPA (This incident appears to be related to the Alsa Lumad, the lumads' movement against the New People's Army)," Capt. Cinco said.
Labawan is also convinced this was the handiwork of the NPA.
"NPA ra gyod na wa nay lain (I blame no one but the NPA)," he said.
Labawan then challenged the rebels to face him instead of attacking his home.
"Kung mopatay sila sa ako, dili lang nila idamay akong pamilya. Kung giyera, giyera ta sa bukid, tutal pareha man ta armado (If they want to kill me, then they should do so and not drag my family to this. If they want to battle it out, then let's fight in the boondocks, anyway, we're all armed)," Labawan said.
Labawan said the grenade explosions will not stop him from his advocacy against the communist rebels.
"Dili ko mosibog. Naghangyo ko sa akong mga kauban nga kita dili mag-atras (I will not withdraw. I told my companions not to withdraw)," he said.
It was learned that Labawan has been receiving threats before the incident.
Labawan's security guard named Melvin Ligunay told police that he noticed men hanging around their area on Thursday night, but he just ignored them thinking that they were neighbors.
Investigations on the crime scene were done by the Buhangin Police, Task Force Davao (TFD), Investigation Section of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and the Scene of the Crime and Operations (Soco).
Further investigation is being conducted.
(September 25, 2004 issue)
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