Another student of a lumad community school was shot dead by alleged military-backed militiamen on Sunday afternoon in Davao del Norte.
Witnesses said Alibando Tingkas, a 15-year-old Grade 3 student of lumad community school Salugupongan Ta Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center was allegedly killed by members of the Alamara paramilitary group while on his way home to Sitio Laslakan, Palma Gil, Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
Lumad in the community earlier claimed that members of the paramilitary group were seen at the outskirts of Talaingod town days before the shooting.
Two other students of the school who were with Tingkas during the incident escaped unharmed.
The local police said it could not establish a motive for the killing but a group supporting lumad causes pinned blame on the military.
“There are still continuing attacks on lumad communities believed to be breeding grounds for the New Peoples’ Army,” Rius Valle, a spokesman for Save our Schools Southern Mindanao told The Standard in a phone interview.
Valle alleged that the military has also been actively recruiting local residents, especially the youth, to join paramilitary groups.
“Those who refuse to join are accused of being members or supporters of the insurgents,” he said.