CORDON, Isabela — Rep. Napoleon S. Dy on Sunday urged the Philippine National Police to investigate the killing of Jose “Joe” Bugbog, a respected leader of indigenous groups in Isabela who was shot dead on Friday at the village of Turod Norte here.
At the time of his killing, Bugbog was with three women leaders of the fourth district of Isabela.
They were on their way home from community activities and scheduling medical missions when their vehicle was attacked by the assailants.
One of the women was wounded.
Women’s rights
Bugbog, according to Dy, spent his life fighting for the rights of women and indigenous peoples.
According to Dy, Bugbog was a volunteer and organizer of Avance Isabelina, a women’s group in Isabela working for women’s rights and equality.
It also provides women of Isabela access to healthcare and wellness.
The killing of Bugbog, Dy said, came as a shock.
“Isabela has lost a crusader,” Dy said.
“The indigenous peoples and women of Isabela lost a great volunteer and dedicated organizer,” he added.
“I consider the death of Joe as an attack against the women of Isabela,” said the congressman.
‘Cowards’
He said the “cowards” who killed Bugbog “must answer for their crime.”
Leaders of the town’s migrant Ifugao community condemned the killing, as well as an “affront to all indigenous communities in Isabela.”
An ally of Dy, Bugbog was a leader of Isabela’s Ifugao settlers and was a volunteer organizer, according to Anac-IP Rep. Jose Panganiban Jr.
“We urge the indigenous people to speak up and denounce this murder,” Panganiban said.
Dy said he “will not rest until Bugbog gets justice.”
Council bet
Senior Insp. Christopher Danao, Cordon police chief, said investigators had started looking into all angles to determine why Bugbog was attacked.
Bugbog had just filed his certificate of candidacy for Cordon councilor.
He served in the municipal council from 2013 to 2016 but lost his reelection bid in 2016. —Villamor Visaya Jr.