MANILA, Philippines – A lumad teacher, her husband and four community leaders were reportedly held by soldiers in Sarangani province on Thursday, October 5, which also happens to be World Teachers’ Day.
The Save Our Schools Network, which supports schools set up in tribal communities by civil society and religious groups, reported that Aubrey Masalon, a teacher of the CLANS (Center for Lumad Advocacy and Services) Lumad Community School, her husband Nestor, and their still unidentified companions were held by troops of the Army’s 73trd Infantry Battalion in Lamsalo, Barangay Upper Suyan in Malapatan town.
The SOS Network gave no other details about the incident, saying they were “having difficulty contacting the teachers.”
It said “a quick reaction team was dispatched earlier” to work for the release of the Masalons and their companions.
