Katungod Lumad Alert:
Two Lumad were killed allegedly by members of the dela Mance paramilitary group on September 15, 2015 in Sitio Balaudo, St. Peters, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon
At around 7A.M., Obet Pabiana, a 30-year old Banwaon and member of Lumad organization Tagdumahan, was gunned down while he was traversing a trail in Sitio Balaudo. He was with his five other companions (names withheld for protection).
Obet was ahead of his group by a few meters when he was shot. Two shots were fired directly hitting his chest and the right side of his abdomen. Even with the sustained wounds, he was able to run back towards his companions and then immediately fell. Before Obet died, he was able to reveal that Mankolobi Bocalas and Manlumakad Bocalas fired at him.
On the same day, at around 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon, Olaking Olinan, a 15-year old Talaandig, went to Bayo, Sitio Balaudo, St. Peter, Malaybalay City to gather abaca fiber. He was accompanied by his brother, Mandi Olinan.
Olaking was about five meters higher above ground than Mandi while they were working. At around 2 P.M., Mandi heard two successive gunshots. After a few minutes, he checked on his brother and found out that Olaking was lying on the ground bleeding and lifeless.
He left his brother and ran towards Sitio Balaudo. He relayed the incident to the leaders.
The community members decided to retrieve the body the next day. They went to the place of incident at 7A.M. of September 16, 2015. They found the lifeless body of Olaking beside the abaca fibers he gathered.
The tribal leaders investigated the area where Olaking and Obet were shot. They discovered footsteps from about 10 meters from where Obet was hit. They followed the tracks and they were stunned that they were led to a few meters from where Olaking was killed.
The killing of Olaking was strongly believed to be committed by Mankolobi Bocalas and Manlumakad Bocalas, the same men who shot-dead Obet.
The Bocalas are members of the paramilitary group of Dante dela Mance under the overall command of Romulo “Bonggak” dela Mance. The dela Mance group are known to undertake criminal acts such as landgrabbing, exortion, and robbery, among others, and are allegedly backed by the Philippine military since 1995 when the group, then headed by Doro Dela Mance, posed as rebel returnees.
In an interview with local media earlier this year, the dela Mance group admitted that they have affiliated themselves to the paramilitary band Alamara operating in the boundaries of San Fernando, Bukidnon and Talaingod, Davao Province.
The killings were reported and documented just recently because the area is located in a very remote hinterland.
Demand justice now!
EXPRESS YOUR CONCERN to the Philippine Government by writing to:
H.E. Benigno S. Aquino III
President of the Republic of the Philippines
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected]
Hon. Leila M. de Lima
Secretary, Department of Justice
Tel: 523-8481 (loc. 211/214 ), 521-1908
Fax: 524-5936
Email: [email protected]
Ret. Lt. Gen. Voltaire T. Gazmin
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Voice:+63(2) 911-6193, Fax:+63(2) 911-6213
Hon. Jose Luis Martin Gascon
Chairperson, Commission On Human Rights
Telefax: 929-0102, 928-5655, 926-6188
Atty. Leonor T. Oralde-Quintayo
Chairperson, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
Tel: 373-97-87
Email: [email protected]
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III
Chair, Justice and Human Rights Committee
Philippine Senate
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Direct Lines: (632) 822-9758
Fax No.: (632) 822-9759
Email: [email protected]
Rep. Guillermo Romarate Jr.
Chair, Human Rights Committee
House of Representatives
Tel: (632) 931-5001; local 7051, 9518974
Leonor T. Oralde-Quintayo
Chair, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
Tel.: 373-9942
Hon. Jose Ma. Zubiri, Jr.
Governor, Province of Bukidnon
Provincial Capitol, Malaybalay City
Tel.: (088) 221-2523; (088) 813-3845
Hon. Ignacio W. Zubiri
Mayor, City of Malaybalay
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel.: (088) 221-2267
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Contact us at:
Higala sa Lumad Network
Room 01, Kalinaw Lanao Center for Interfaith Resources
0016 Bougainvilla Puti, Villaverde
9200 Iligan City, Philippines
T/F: +63 (63) 223 5179
E: [email protected]
Katungod Lumad Alert is published by the ‘Higala sa Lumad’ [Friends of the Lumad] Network.
‘Higala sa Lumad’ Network is a support group composed of a broad range of interfaith personalities/representative of organizations synergizing relevant capacities and resources for Lumad communities under attack. ‘Higala’ also serves as an informal monitoring network for Lumad human rights. ‘Higala’ has been established as a component of the ‘Healing the Hurt’ Project.
Published with support from the European Commission.
This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of RMP-NMR and ‘Healing the Hurt’ Project partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.
