Civilians hunting for food killed by 37th IB in Sultan Kudarat

Two residents of Sultan Kudarat who went out the night of September 4 to hunt for food ended up being prey to the 37th IB. Lumads Dino Itnu and Renato Macargas, both residents of Sitio Loboc, Barangay Sta. Clara in Kalamansig town were shot and killed by operating soldiers in the area. The victims were hunting for “baki” (frogs) when soldiers accosted them.

To cover up the crime, Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon of the Joint Task Force Central announced that Itnu and Macargas were NPA members killed in a clash. Rifles and explosives were planted in the victims’ possession to justify the military report.

However, this was belied by the 37th IB when it paid damages to silence the victim’s families. Through the mediation of Kalamansig’s Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative, the families received P60,000 each.

Prior to the incident, three motorists were physically assaulted by soldiers belonging to the 37th IB. Renato Angulin, Jun-jun Mandong and Cris Macagarsi were accosted in Sitio Lower Nursery of the same barangay in September 2.

Earlier that day, the 37th IB clashed with a unit of the New People’s Army and suffered casualties.

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Civilians hunting for food killed by 37th IB in Sultan Kudarat