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?
