5 Apayao massacre suspects charged

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet — Five of the nine suspects in the murder of three farmers whose bodies were burned last month have been arrested and charged by police.

Police said barangay and municipal officials in Cabugao and Pudtol towns helped trace the suspects in the killing of farmers Felix BagayMatulot, 75; Jayson Gangani Acob, 29; and Rogelio Init Rupad, 39, in Lower Maton in Pudtol last July 21.

A fourth victim who survived the attack was identified by police as Elevencio Pagtan Matulot, 44.

Chief Supt. Benjamin B. Magalong, Cordillera police directdor identified the suspects as Dionisio Batalao Beltran, 51; Bryan Abagao Bernal, 21; Beltran Labuag Francisco, 31; Devera Luban Dandan, 28 and a 17-year-old, boy, all farmers and residents of Barangay Kumao, Cabugao, Apayao.

The killing stemmed from a disturbance of the victims’ fishpond allegedly by the suspects.