BAGUIO CITY (Jan. 21) — Two farmers were killed and three others were wounded including two teenagers after soldiers fired at them yesterday, January 21 in Carupian, Baggao, Cagayan.

Edralin Guduy, 28 and Alvin Fuentes died on the spot at around 3:00 PM in Sitio Bakong, Carupian where soldiers of the the 17th IB allegedly conducted a military operations against New People’s Army (NPA) guerillas. Ailyn Quintos, 13, Rosemary Tomas, 14 and Sony Buco, 37 were wounded at Sitio Zone 4, around one kilometer from Sitio Bakong.

Kaguimungan Adviser Isabelo Adviento told Nordis that Guduy and Fuentes and several others were tending to their corn farm when they heard gunshots that prompted them to run for cover. However, he said soldiers saw them and shot at them. He iterated that Guduy and Fuentes died while the others were able to run to safety. He said both are members of Kaguimungan, a legitimate peasant organization in Cagayan.

Adviento added that Quintos, Tomas and Buco were shot near their houses as they were about to leave the sitio to avoid getting caught in the cross fire. He also said the soldiers who shot Quintos, Tomas and Buco were about 100 meters away.

Quintos, Tomas and Buco were rushed to Cagayan Valley Medical Center where they were treated and confined. The three were discharged last January 24.

Guduy and Fuentes were laid to rest last January 25 at the Baggao cemetery. # Kim Quitasol for NORDIS