Dispute over fishing site: 3 killed, 1 survive Apayao massacre

PUDTOL, Apayao – Three residents died in a massacre here when they were shot to death July 21, their bodies burned along with the house where they were murdered, but one survived to tell the gory tale. 

Senior Supt. Albertlito Garcia, Apayao, police director said the shooting incident happened in Sitio Magabobong, Upper Maton, Pudtol.

He identified the victims as Felix B. Matulot, 75; Jayson G. Acob, 29; Rogelio I. Rupad, 39 and Elevencio Matulot y Pagtan, 44, the lone survivor, all farmers and residents of Lower Maton, Pudtol.

The nine alleged murderers were identified as DionisioBatalao Bernal, TubbanLuban, Beltran Francisco, DivinaDandan, Gerald Daluguis, Marcelo Luban, Alex Luban, Bryan Bernal and Charlie Igwad, all residents of Kabugao town.

Prior to the killing, the victims reportedly went to visit their old house in Upper Maton, on July 19.

The following day, they discovered that their “Lapat” (no fishing area) was allegedly “violated” by the suspects.

Police said it is a tribal custom that lapats should not be trespassed upon by anybody without consent of the owner.

On July 21, the suspects went to the house of the victims where a heated argument ensued with the suspects that resulted in the killing of the victims.

The lone survivor who was then at the river and about to return to the house was suddenly fired upon by one of the suspects prompting him to run for his safety and while escaping, he heard three successive gun shots coming from their house.

He went to his mother’s house in Waga, Kabugao, and the following day and used a motorized boat to report the incident to Pudtol police.

Early morning of July 22, police with relatives of the victims went to the crime scene and arrived at about 2 p.m. where they found the house was already burned together with cadavers of the victims.

The victims were positively identified by the relatives base on their remains and recovered several fired bullets of shotgun.