Monday, October 15, 2007 Relatives of slain farmers claim harassment by militiamen By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE relatives of the two farmers who were allegedly shot and killed by militiamen in Laak, Compostela Valley rued the continuing harassment on their community.
In a telephone interview, Jimboy Rodriguez said they live in fear after the militiamen who killed his brother Titing and Rene Adlawan constantly threaten neighbors telling them not to say anything.
Jimboy said they went to Titing's farm at Sitio Balwarte, Barangay San Antonio last Saturday to get the victim's livestock.
"Naa me karon sa uma ni Titing diin didto siya gipatay. Gipanguha namo ang mga hayop baboy, kabaw ug kabayo. Naa lang gihapon ang mga Cafgu, nanghulga nga ang mga silingan ni Titing hutdon daw pagpatay (We are at Titing's farm where he was killed. We are retrieving his livestock. The militiamen are still here, threatening his neighbors that they all will be killed)," Jimboy said.
Titing and Rene were said to be harvesting corn when about five armed men arrived at the area and confronted Titing. Jimboy said Titing was accused by the armed men of having a hand in the death of a militiaman in Laak a week earlier.
It was learned that a militiaman was killed by New People's Army rebels in the area last week and Titing was suspected as the one who informed the rebels about the victim's presence in the area.
Jimboy said that after a brief altercation, the armed men then fired at Titing and Rene several times. The men left the area casually after the incident. Jimboy said several witnesses have identified the suspects as militiamen and Army soldiers.
