Teachers’ reps seek probe of killing of lumad, tutors

TWO PARTY-LIST lawmakers have asked President Duterte to look into the killing of a lumad leader and two teachers and the wounding of two others in Davao City and Cotabato City last week.

ACT Teachers Representatives Antonio Tinio and France Castro said Mr. Duterte should call for an investigation into the killing of lumad school leader Hermie Alegre and the wounding of tribal chief Danny Diarog in Sitio Kahusayan, Davao City, at 2 p.m. on Friday.

“Through underhanded ways, perpetrators kill and maim lumad leaders like Alegre and Diarog who stand with their people in their struggle for land and self-determination. By attacking their leaders, they aim to incapacitate our lumad brothers and sisters who only want to serve their communities and live according to their own ways, with their ancestral land and resources,” Tinio said in a statement.

Alegre was an officer of the Parent-Teachers Association of the Salugpungan Ta’ Tanu Igkanugon (Unity in Defense of Ancestral Land) Community Learning Center in the sitio, while Diarog is the chieftain of the Bagobo tribe there. They were attacked on their way home from a meeting with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples by motorcycle-riding suspects.

Castro said the attack would adversely impact the education of lumad children and their peaceful way of life.

The attack was believed to have been aimed at sowing fear among the lumad, after the issuance of an arrest warrant by a Davao court for the “Haran 15,” who were accused of  assisting hundreds of lumad evacuees fleeing from the military encamped in their communities two years ago.

“Lumad school and community leaders being targeted by the military, paramilitaries and private armies mean that indigenous learning and the lumad way of life are also under attack,” Castro said.

ACT also condemned the killing of two women teachers and the wounding of another in Cotabato City on Tuesday.

Killed by suspects also on a motorcycle were Fahara Kabuntalan La, 29, and Sittie Usop Abdullah, 31. Aisah Karon Malugka, 34,  was wounded.

All three were teachers at Mokamad Ali Elementary School in Barangay Tamontaka 4. They were in a tricycle when they were fired upon, according to Chief Insp. Rustom  Pastolero of Police Station 3.

The tricycle driver, Fahad Abdulwahid Abdullah, 21, was also wounded in the gun attack that occurred in full public view but with the gunmen wearing ski masks, Pastolero said.

“These teachers do not have known enemies,” Johnny Balawag, administrative  officer of the public city schools division, told reporters.

“The local authorities, both the local government unit and the Philippine National Police, should work hard and fast to determine the perpetrators of  the incident,” Raymond Basilio, ACT secretary general, said.