Member of militant farmers’ group killed in Compostela Valley

TAGUM CITY — Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a member of a militant farmers’ group in Mawab town, Compostela Valley on Wednesday, rights group Karapatan on Thursday said.

Roger Timboco alias Titing, 32, was shot at a motorcycle-for-hire terminal in Mawab around 12 noon, Jay Apiag, Karapatan Southern Mindanao spokesperson, said.

The victim, who doubles as a habal-habal (motorcycle-for-hire) driver, was waiting for passengers at the terminal when attacked, Apiag said.

Apiag said Timboco was a member of Kahugpongan sa mga Mag-uuma sa Maco, ComVal (Farmers’ Federation of Maco, ComVal) or Kammao, and was a staunch supporter of banana workers who have been embroiled in a land dispute with agribusiness giant Lapanday Foods Corp. (LFC) in Davao del Norte.

Apiag has accused alleged agents of the army’s 71st Infantry Battalion behind the farmer-driver’s murder.

The military has yet to issue a statement in response to the rights group’s allegation, although the 10th Infantry Division, which has operational control over military units in Compostela Valley, has belied similar accusations in the past.

Timboco was the 43rd victim of political killing in Southern Mindanao under the Duterte administration, the regional rights spokesperson said. JE