THREE members of the Lumad-Manobo tribe, including a 12-year-old girl. on Tuesday were killed in an alleged gunfight with the military in Surigao del Sur.

Lumads Willy Rodriguez, Lenie Rivas and Lenie’s 12-year-old sister Angel died in an alleged shootout with members of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion of the Philippine Army in Bgy. Diatagon, Lianga town.

Angel’s body was found wrapped in plastic and tape and a portion of her face had stitches.

The bodies of Rodriguez and Rivas were found in the farm.

Karapatan Caraga said the victims were shot while they were farming abaca at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

The 4th Infantry Division claimed that incident was an encounter and that the victims were members of the New People’s Army.

According to National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, the group was discovered following the arrest of an alleged child warrior in a separate operation in Agusan.

The NTF-ELCAC claimed the group has been using children for a long time against the government.

“Sila po ay kasama sa engkuwentro, may mga baril po sila. At ‘yun nga po, dahil pinutukan po ‘yung ating kasundaluhan, lumaban po sila,” 4th Infantry Division spokesperson Maj. Rodulfo Cordero said.

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo maintained the three were members of the NPA, saying the terrorist group was trying to “distort the news.”

“This is a legitimate military operation. The persons who died in this engagement were members of NPA and firearms were recovered from their possession,” he said.

Residents, who refused anonymity, meanwhile said, Angel was not a rebel.

“Hindi naman ‘yan NPA eh. Nag-aaral ‘yan sa alternative learning system,” a resident said.

Lianga Mayor Novelita Sarmen said a fact-finding committee was formed to investigate the incident.