A clash between the Abu Sayyaf and the AFP that happened last April 11th has claimed the lives of an elderly couple whom the military says were terrorists. Their relatives however, say that the couple were innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.
They were too old and too slow to move
Before the encounter between the AFP and the ABu Sayyaf, orders were sent out to evacuate Barangay Napo, Inabanga town in Bohol. However, an elderly couple, Constantina, 68, and Constancio Petalco, 66, failed to evacuate their home as according to their relatives, they were too old, and too slow to move.
They add that Constantina had joint problems which made it nigh impossible for them to evacuate.
Because of what happened, their family is now seeking justice as well as compensation from the government as their relatives were innocent victims of the firefight.
The government still maintains the couple were terrorists
Currently, the government still maintains that the couple were terrorists.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Jose Dodjie Belloga Jr., commander of the 47th Infantry Batallion, "Iyong mga naiwan sa loob, sa amin, are considered supporters or kasama ng ASG." He adds that they were considered terrorists or supporters since they failed to evacuate the town after they sent out the orders.
They added that they're currently investigating a connection between the elderly couple, and one of their nephews who was allegedly a member of the Abu Sayyaf group.
The couple were laid to rest at Cawayan Public Cemetery.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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