Prize offered for info on tribal woman’s brutal killing in Davao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte offered a P50,000 reward to anyone who could point to the killer or killers of a tribal woman whose chopped body parts were found in various areas of Tugbok district on Wednesday and Thursday.

The dismembered body was later identified by relatives as that of Telepid Ope Manlatas, 20, of Barangay Dagohoy in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.

Her cousins, Pinlao Intoc Atolan and Lorna Salanggoy Unalin, said they last saw Manlatas alive on December 10 while they were caroling in Buhangin district.

The city government has made it a tradition to invite tribespeople or lumads to the city during the Christmas season, setting aside funds for their travel to the city, and food and temporary lodging in  gymnasiums and barangay halls.

During this time, they roam around the city with their native instruments, playing native tunes in the hope of earning some money that they can use back home.

Senior Inspector Antonio C. Villacarlos, chief of the Tugbok police station, said Manlatas failed to return to the Buhangin gym, where she was to spend the night together with her cousins so the duo presumed she slept elsewhere.

Duterte said she was hoping that the reward would speed up the arrest of those responsible for Manlatas’ death.