BARELY two days after a farmer was killed in Salawagan, Quezon town in Bukidnon on Friday, another farmer was gunned down by still unidentified assailant in the same village over the weekend.
Killed was Jeffrey Bayot, resident of Butong, Quezon town. He was ambushed around 7 p.m., Sunday, August 11.
Police investigation showed that the victim was driving his “Baja” motorcycle along the highway when he was waylaid by the unidentified gunman.
The victim was shot several times hitting different parts of his body. He was rushed to the hospital but he did not get there alive.
Police are still investigating the incident while hot pursuit operation has been launched.
On Friday, unidentified gunmen shot dead Alex Lacay while driving a motorcycle on his way to the market.
The regional lumad organization Kalumbay said Lacay and Bayot are members of Kaugalingong Sistema Igpapasindog to Lumadnong Ogpaan (Kasilo), a lumad and peasant group.
The group once again accused the 88th Infantry Battalion of allegedly having a hand in the killings.
“His assailants are believed to be operatives of the 88IB. Insiders claim that so-called rebel returnees are obliged by the military to attack members of progressive organizations to prove their loyalty,” Kalumbay said in a statement.
“This is another glaring example of how martial law in Mindanao does not benefit the rural poor of the island. Instead, it serves as a blanket authority that worsens impunity against farmers, lumad and other sectors,” it added.
As of this writing Monday, the 88IB has not yet responded when reached for comment.