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Sunday, January 15, 2006
Village chief, 4 others die in Bukidnon clash
By Lino dela Cruz
Iligan correspondent
BUKIDNON -- Five men, including a barangay chairman, were killed in an encounter Saturday in Talakag, Bukidnon, between policemen and lawless elements believed to be cattle rustlers.
As of this posting, the barangay chairman was only identified as barangay chief Balansi of Lantud village. A certain Senior Police Officer Lopez was also reported killed in the encounter.
Jim Boy Bulantahan, Victor Kalaw and an unidentified companion, all suspected cattle rustlers were also killed in the encounter.
Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Simbajon, Philippine Army's 4th Infantry Division spokesman said government troops and the barangay chairman were in hot pursuit of lawless elements in Talakag, Bukidnon Saturday when fighting broke out in Sitio Bitaug, Barangay Lantud.
The suspected cattle rustlers reportedly fired first.
Recovered from the suspects were 1 Garand rifle, 1 Carbine, 1 caliber .38 pistol and 1 home made shotgun.
Philippine Army's 4th Infantry Division commander Brigadier General Cardozo Luna immediately ordered the army's 9th Infantry Battalion to conduct pursuit operations on the cattle rustlers.
In another incident, in Compostela Valley Province Thursday, two members of the New People's Army (NPA) Sparrow Unit shot and killed a barangay council member of Barangay Kapatagan, Laak, in the said province, Simbajon said.
The victim was identified as Ruben Celeste, 48, a farmer and a barangay councilman of Kapatagan, Laak town, Compostela Valley province.
He was shot several times with a caliber .45 pistol, while he was working on his farm. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex) |
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