Gunfight kills 3 believed kin of tribal chief

DIGOS CITY—A military operation against a tribal leader, who had taken up arms to fight the entry of mining in his community, led to the killing of three persons believed to be members of the tribal chief’s family.

Lt. Col. Alexis Bravo, head of the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion, said law enforcers went to Barangay Kimlawis in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur after receiving a tip that Daguil Capion was in the area.

Capion is leader of the B’laan tribe who has been tagged in armed attacks on and the killings of security officers and individuals connected with a mining project by Sagittarius Mines Inc.

Capion and his brothers Batas and Kitara are on the wanted list of authorities for the armed attacks.

Bravo said law enforcers took positions outside a hut where Capion was believed to be hiding when the lawmen were fired upon.

The lawmen returned fire, according to Bravo, but did not know that Capion had fled with his followers.

Inside the hut, Bravo said soldiers found the bodies of a woman believed to be Capion’s wife and of two boys believed to be the tribal leader’s sons. Orlando Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao