ON SURIGAO KILLINGS

  Killing is an act of causing death and it is synonymous to murder, assassination, homicide, manslaughter, elimination, putting to death and execution. In our laws, it is considered as a grave offense and punishable by greater penalty of imprisonment—Reclusion Perpetua.

  Killing is an act that disrespects people’s right to life and is a condemnable act.

  The recent killings of members of ALCADEV and MAPASU in Surigao del Sur is considered very inhuman and is an evidence that human rights violation is still rampant in our society despite thousands of laws that promotes life and despite existence of organizations that champions it. What is more disagreeable to the incident was that, the persons killed are those people considered members of organizations who ‘worked for the community.’

  The ALCADEV, the organization where one of the victims is a member of, is an organization that aims to provide education to indigenous youth. It is with the joint effort of other indigenous peoples organizations in CARAGA region like MAPASU, KALUNASS, KASALO, TRIFPSS-NGO and SILDAP-SIDLAKAN, organizations known to be affiliated to left leaning organizations like KARAPATAN.

  While we abhor and condemn the killings of these people, we cannot discount the fact that witnesses said that it is the BAGANI, the tribal guards of the Lumads who killed them. We cannot discount the fact that these BAGANIs are empowered by their culture and tradition and we account discount the fact the victims are also Lumads who adheres to the same culture and tradition as their killers.

While it is hard to believe and understand that these BAGANIs, their formation and foundation is linked to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, because it is an open fact that it is part of the Lumads’ culture and tradition, we also have to look into how the victims were killed.

  We know that Lumads are peace-loving people. They value relationships and respect other people’s rights and views. It is even in their culture that if somebody does something good to them, they will look up to that person for a lifetime. However, if somebody trespass them, step on their rights and degrade them, they will never forget and forgive until the person is persecuted.

According to reports, the victims were brutally killed or over-killed which may mean that the perpetrators hold huge grudge against them.  Could it be possible that the victims violated their culture and their laws that is why they are persecuted that way?  Could it be that the victims are also like the Datus or the leaders of the “support groups” of Lumads in Haran? Who have deceived and fooled their fellow Lumads? Or could they be victims of purging?

  After all that have been said and reported, the question remains, why the victims were killed by their fellow Lumads? Or why the victims were killed by Magahat-Bagani who is known of their anti-NPA activities?