MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (AP) — Philippine Army soldiers allegedly mistook a couple for communist rebels during a patrol in a remote Bukidnon village and opened fire, killing the woman and wounding her husband, a military official said.
The incident occurred around 10 a.m. on June 15 in Sitio Mahayag, Barangay St. Peter, a mountainous area near the Bukidnon-Agusan boundary where government troops have been conducting security operations amid ongoing counterinsurgency efforts.
Lt. Col. Arnold Bautista, commander of the Philippine Army’s 88th Infantry Battalion, said soldiers belonging to a Forward Operating Detachment conducted a patrol in the area. They encountered the couple and initially thought they were members of the New People’s Army (NPA), the communist movement’s armed wing.
According to Bautista, troops observed what they thought was a firearm resembling an M14 rifle fitted with a scope. Soldiers attempted to verify the identities of the individuals, but the couple allegedly fled after becoming frightened.
Bautista said the soldiers opened fire after they reportedly saw what they thought a .22‑caliber rifle the husband carried. The shooting killed Nenita Buscada and wounded her husband; rescuers took him to a medical facility for treatment.
A subsequent investigation found that the victims were residents of Sitio Mahayag who had reportedly been collecting firewood in the forest. Relatives and community leaders said the couple planned to sell the wood to earn money for their child’s school supplies.
The Philippine Army acknowledged the possibility that its personnel may have misidentified the couple and announced an investigation into the shooting.
Bautista said authorities placed the eight soldiers involved under battalion custody while they determine whether these men followed military protocols. “If the investigation establishes that military procedures were violated, the soldiers directly involved may face appropriate charges,” Bautista said.
He also issued a public apology to the victims’ family and pledged military assistance, including support for funeral arrangements and the family’s immediate needs. “We deeply regret what happened and will do everything possible to help the family affected by this tragedy,” he said.
Bautista said troops operating in the area had been on heightened alert because of previous encounters with communist rebels. He cited an ambush involving military personnel in 2024 and recent clashes in nearby Barangay Busdi as factors contributing to increased vigilance among soldiers.
Despite those security concerns, he said the military would conduct a comprehensive review of the incident to determine accountability.
The shooting has drawn concern from indigenous communities in the area.
Datu Lailay, the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative of Barangay St. Peter, called for a fair and transparent investigation and urged authorities to ensure justice for the victims. “We hope the family receives justice and that the investigation will be conducted fairly and transparently,” he said. Community leaders and military officials have begun discussions to address concerns arising from the incident, Lailay added.
The case has renewed scrutiny of military rules of engagement and civilian protection in conflict-affected rural communities, particularly in indigenous areas where residents often depend on forest resources for their livelihood.
The wounded husband remained under medical care as of Tuesday, while relatives, community leaders and human rights advocates awaited the outcome of the military inquiry.
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