LUMAD group Kalumbay said the gun heist initiated by Aldie Salusad in an Army patrol base in San Fernando, Bukidnon last week could only be a "drama" to deceive Lumads.
Kalumbay chairperson Datu Jomorito Goaynon said this is not the first time that this happened, citing an incident in 2014 when Salusad, commonly known as Butchoy, also "fooled" the army. But he said Salusad continues to be protected by the military and was even made a leader of New Indigenous People's Army for Reform (Nipar).
"Kaniadtong 2014, sa ning-surrender na si Butchoy ug naa na sa ilang mga kamot, ning-sibat daw kini. Ug sa dihang naghimo na siya ug mga kadaot sa mga lumad, niingon na dayon ang militar nga wala na daw sa ilang kamot si Butchoy. So kami nag-ingon nga posible usa ra kini ka drama para makapanghugas ug kamot ang militar sa mga buhaton nga krimen ni Butchoy batok sa mga lumad," Goaynon said.
(In 2014, when Butchoy surrendered, they claimed Butchoy escaped. And when Butchoy made allegations against the Lumads, the military said Butchoy was not under their supervision. So we can tell that it is possible this is only a drama so the military can wash their hands off the crimes committed by Butchoy against the Lumads.)
If indeed this recent development is true, Goaynon said the military should now be serious to put Salusad, who is facing multiple murder charges, behind bars.
Goaynon said over the years, Salusad and his "army" have remained scot-free despite warrants of arrest against him for, among others, the murder of a village chairman in barangay Dao, San Fernando in 2011 and the killing of a pregnant woman in barangay Kawayan, also in San Fernando town in 2016.
"Kung tinuod nga ning-traydor na si Butchoy sa army, nagpamatuod kini nga dili epektibo ang ilang programa sa militar nga balik loob, livelihood sa mga lumad. Fake kini nga reporma," Goaynon said.
(If it’s true that Butchoy betrayed the military, it just showed the “balik loob” program of the military and livelihood for the Lumads is not true. This is a fake reform.)
Last November 15, Butchoy's group and two Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) cohorts carted away 14 firearms from an Army patrol base in Kibonkog, San Fernando, Bukidnon.
They were able to steal two R4 rifles; eight M16 rifles; one carbine; four grand rifle; one Harris radio, cellular phone of CAAs, BDA uniforms, and combat packs.
The 4th Infantry Division (4ID) meanwhile has created a Board of Inquiry to investigate the "circumstances that led to the heist of such firearms." It also assured that proper sanctions will be given to all personnel that were involved and proven its neglect of duty.