Suspect in killing of Manobo village chief still at large; ‘lumads’ live in fear

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MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon, Philippines – Fear continues to hound lumad (indigenous) residents of Barangay Dao in San Fernando, Bukidnon, who have been living away from their homes for more than four months now.

The 35 Manobo families – who have laid claim to their ancestral domain in potential mining areas – had put up makeshift tents outside the provincial capitol compound here and have been urging officials to arrest the main suspect in the death of their village chair, Jimmy Liguyon.

Liguyon was shot dead outside of his house on March 5 in front of his children.

The suspect, Alde Salusad, fled and has not been found since.

His family said the motive of the murder was to silence Liguyon because he was against large-scale mining operations in the village.

Randy, one of Liguyon’s children, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer he had heard Salusad declaring that he shot his father “because he refused to agree with the ancestral domain claim of the San Fernando Matigsalog, Tigwahanon, Manobo Tribal Datu Association (Sanmatrida).”

Salusad is a former communist rebel who became a militiaman after surrendering to the government and belongs to the Sanmatrida group.

Sharon, Liguyon’s wife, said her husband had been opposing Sanmatrida’s claim to a 52,000-hectare land area in Dao and argued that the area belonged to the Liguyon clan.

Insp. Gregorio Adrigado, San Fernando police chief, said a warrant of arrest has long been issued against Salusad but police have been having difficulty locating him.

He said Salusad has been leading an armed group that has been difficult for the local police to confront.

“He belongs to a big group and they are armed. I don’t want to put the lives of my men in danger unless we can have a bigger team to hunt Salusad down,” Adrigado said.

Bukidnon Vice Governor Jose Ma. Zubiri said Wednesday he has sent a negotiator to persuade Salusad to yield and finally put the Manobo evacuees at ease.

“I even offered to take Salusad under custody so that the evacuees can go home,” he said.

Leah Tumbalang, secretary-general of Kaugalingong Sistema Tu Igpapasundog Lumadnong Ogpaan or Kasilo (Right to Self-Determination and Ancestral Domain), said the 35 families have been short on food and water and health issues have started to sprout.

She said many of the evacuees have learned to skip a meal every day so they can live through the next day.

An evacuee who only wanted to be identified as Marlyn said their children have started falling ill because of exposure to extreme weather and unfavorable conditions inside the tents.

“But I prefer living here these days because it is safer. We won’t return unless the people threatening us are arrested. If they easily killed our village chair, they can also kill us anytime,” she said.

Lucas Manlus-ag, another evacuee, said they would like to correct perceptions that they purposely stayed at the capitol grounds because of donations.

“We are poor but we are contented with what we have at home. We can work and buy our food. Unlike here, we feel so stripped of dignity while we wait for food donations. We are lucky if food comes everyday,” he said.

Richie, Manlus-ag’s daughter who gave birth to a girl at the makeshift tent they have been living in in May, said in Barangay Dao, they normally would have viand each meal.

“Here, I only have salt and rice,” she said.

Randy said had Salusad been arrested, they would have gone back to their houses already.

“We want to go back to work. We want to move on and face the battle against Salusad in the courts. We are sick and tired of our situation right now,” he said.

In Matanao, Davao del Sur, police authorities said they have been trying to prevent a pangayaw (tribal warfare) after the leader of a B’laan community was shot dead last Friday.

Senior Inspector Charlie Merca, Matanao police chief, they wanted to immediately determine the identities and motive of the two motorcycle-riding gunmen, who shot dead Datu Calibo Lasib inside his house in Barangay Colonsabak on Friday evening.

Lasib’s relatives, Merca said, might take revenge – which could worsen the situation.

A pangayaw is the B’laan’s way of making justice work, according to Merca. With a report from Orlando Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao