3 Besao men found slain at Tubo, Abra eel fishing site

By Gina Dizon

BESAO, Mountain Province — Three farmers from Agawa, Besao were found dead in three separate sites along Lakanga River reportedly a common fishing site of “dalit” (eel) among folks from adjacent Tubo, Abra, Agawa Besao and nearby areas.

Besao folks refer to Lakanga as Subokan. Missing for almost a week, found dead were Jansen “Ayban” Gabaen, Ronnie Macayba and Pedro Sauyen all residents of Agawa.

They were found by folks from Tubo on Monday, police reports said. Two were found dead having been shot another by hacking. Along with the bodies were “dalit” found in a sack.

The bodies were brought home to Agawa by Besao folks on Wednesday. As of press time, the dead bodies were still being kept on vigil.

 Besao chief of police Lazaro Fangayen said there is still no information on identity of assailants. Fangayen said a hunter from Tubo informed the Tubo municipal police station which in turn informed Besao police of the three dead men found at Sitio Nakanga of Barangay Baklingayan in Tubao.

Baklingayan is registered as barangay Tabakda of Tubo. Fangayen said as per Google map, the site lies close to Tubo. It was learned that folks from Tabakda/ Baklingayan reached the site after a 7-hour walk where bodies were found. Folks from the nearest site at Gueday, Besao reached the site where bodies were found after 10- hour walk.

Agawa barangay chairman Salvador Luis informed a meeting among barangay officials represented by barangay chairmen of adjacent barangays Agawa, Gueday, Ambagiw and Lacmaan, Besao; police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council that three men of Agawa had left for the “pagpag” (forest) to weave “ugat” (woven basket for fish) reportedly “ordered by the fisheries,” said a Facebook post by Joy Dicdican of Besao.