EXCLUSIVEand 7 die, 7 hurt in Wao, Lanao Sur killings

COTABATO CITY - Tension ran
high in the town of Wao, Lanao del Sur following a series of killings Friday
and Saturday that already left seven persons killed, including pregnant woman
and children, reports said.Interviewed by phone,
Mayor Elvino Balicao said that on Friday, six persons have been killed in the
hacking and shooting incidents. Another died in the hospital on Sunday.

Three children (aged 15,
13 and 9) were feeding three carabaos in separate areas in Sitio Campo Dos,
Park area, Wao, Lanao del Sur.

Balicao said on Friday
afternoon, unidentified men tried to grab one of the carabaos in Sitio Campo
Dos, Barangay Park Area, Wao. But a 15-year
old girl who was taking care of the animal resisted.

Later she was found with
hack wounds in various parts of her body.
Balicao said the girl believed to have been molested before she was
killed.

As the cattle rustlers
left the place, they saw the 13-year-old boy who was also attending to another
carabao. He was attacked, hacked to
death and his animal was taken, Balicao said.

The 9-year-old boy heard
commotion and went to his companions and found his friends lifeless and bloodied.
He also saw one of the suspects washing his machete in the river.

Balicao said the boy
cried and ran away. The suspects chased
him but failed. He reached home and told
the story to his parents

Balicao, quoting
information from the survivor, the suspects fled toward Sitio Magampong, also
in Barangay Park Area.

At past 5 a.m. Saturday,
a series of gun burst were heard from a community in Sitio Magampong.

A gunman alleged entered
the community and opened fire, apparently in retaliation to Friday’s killing of
children, according to Balicao.

Four were killed on the
spot in Sitio Magampong, including a pregnant woman, a child and an elderly woman.

Eight others were
wounded and rushed to a hospital in Maramag, Bukidnon. One expired Sunday while the other five
wounded were in critical condition, Balicao said, adding that seven remained in the hospital. Following the incident,
residents of Sitio Campo Dos and Sitio Magampong have evacuated for fear of
another violence.

Balicao said Army and
police forces have been deployed in two adjoining villages to prevent further
violence.

Inspector Erickson
Banaga, Wao police chief, said investigation was still on-going.

To prevent the
escalation of conflict, Banaga said he stayed overnight in the village as well
as Army and police personnel.

Banaga refused to call
it clashes between tribes as those involved belonged to Ilonggo and Moro groups
in the area.

Gov. Mujiv Hataman of
the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) calls for speedy solution of
the hostilities, identify the suspects and file appropriate charges.

He urged the public ni
Wao and in Lanao del Sur to remain calm. He also urged everyone to avoid
speculations so as not to aggravate the conflict. (Ferdinandh Cabrera)