3 lumads killed in Agusan Norte

BUTUAN CITY , Philippines — Three members of the Higaonon-Manobo tribe were killed in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte on Thursday.

The fatalities were identified as Alfredo Timaquin Sr., 61, and Pira, 48, and Paka, 47, both surnamed Pinatugao.

The New People’s Army (NPA) denied it had a hand in the killings and blamed them on personnel of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit and 23rd Infantry Battalion.

Omar Ibarra, spokesman for NPA rebels in Agusan and Butuan, claimed the murders could be related to the death of a militiaman in Buenavista town earlier this week.