NPA owns up to Impasugong Bukidnon mayor Okinlay slay (statement inside)
BUKIDNON NEWS – The New People’s Army (NPA) has admitted that one of their groups is responsible for the killing of Impasugong, Bukidnon mayor Mario Okinlay. NPA-NCMR Spokesperson Allan Juanito, in an email sent to Bukidnon Online, said that Okinlay implemented “counterinsurgency strategies” and even called the mayor “a local tyrant.”
“In some barrios, they starve the civilian population by unjustly regulating rice procurement to five kilos per family per week, and violate their freedom of movement and means of sustenance by unreasonably imposing the farmers’ work schedule from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM daily,” the statement said.
The NPA spokesperson also said that as early as 2006, they have already warned Okinlay to address the issues the people have raised against him. Instead, Okinlay was “poised as a formidable titan fearing nobody” and that he “moved around with heavily armed escorts,” the statement said.
The statement from the NPA also alleged: “Aside from being a counterrevolutionary, the citizens of Impasug-ong endured his oppressive and exploitative rule for a long time. He has grabbed lands from no less than 50 people, promised them compensation then left the poor landowners waiting for years as they watched their lands in Impasug-ong converted to oil palm plantations. During elections, he hit back on voters who did not vote for him. There have also been cases of harassment and manhandling of civilians who opt to suffer in silence for their own safety.”
Okinlay died of multiple gunshot wounds July 2, 2014 when rebels reportedly attacked the mayor and his group at Barangay Bontongon, Impasugong. Okinlay’s group was on their way home from a “Hatid Serbisyo” medical mission. Okinlay was the only one shot. Okinlay’s group was composed of LGU officers, army reportedly including 8IB commanding officer Lt. Landingin and policemen reportedly including Impasug-ong Chief of Police Pinohan.
The Impasugong mayor was rushed to the Polymedic Hospital in Malaybalay City but eventually succumbed to the gunshot wounds.
Read: Impasugong Mayor Okinlay dies in ambush
* photo courtesy of Impasugong website
