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DAVAO CITY, Philippines — A farmer leader was shot dead in the town of Mabini in Compostela Valley on Tuesday night.
Hanimay Suazo, spokesperson of the human rights group Karapatan Southern Mindanao, said farmer Luis Carbajosa was killed by armed assailants at around 8 p.m. in the village of Mampising.
The 50-year-old farmer was a council member of the local peasant group Maguuma sa Mabini (Humabin), an affiliate of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.
Suazo said Carbajosa was the 41st victim of extra-judicial killings in the Davao region under the present administration.
Karapatan claims that government agents were behind the death of Carbajosa who was vocal in his stand for genuine agrarian reform and against the alleged massive presence of military troops in farming communities.
Suazo said Karapatan has started conducting its own fact-finding to find clues that would lead to the filing of charges against the perpetrators.