7 nabbed for land ‘invasion’

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – Authorities arrested seven armed men for occupying a property, which has been a subject of a land dispute, in Don Carlos town, Bukidnon over the weekend.

Reports said the suspects appeared to be readying for battle when members of the town police arrived at the property in Barangay Sinangguyan.

The property, police said, was allegedly claimed by a certain Bae Juanita Regondola, said to be a representative of an indigenous people’s group.

The armed men did not resist when police officers ordered them to lay down their firearms, which were found to be unlicensed.

Police identified those arrested as Restituto Ampalid, 22; Reco Cadis, 28; JC Valdez, 25; Ricky Tabanag, 29; Elizer Mantawil, 40; Walton Tomangong, 28, and Dante Antatap, 44.

Most of them were from North Cotabato. They were detained at the municipal police jail.

Police have yet to determine the involvement of the armed men in the land dispute or who ordered them to occupy the property.