Group points to militia in killing of farmer leader

DAVAO CITY—A group of farmers is accusing the pro-government militia Magahat-Bagani, which had  been described as a military creation that turned into a monster, of killing a farmer leader in a town in Surigao del Sur province.

Roger Montero, provincial chair of the farmers’ group Kapunungan sa mga Mag-uuma sa Surigao del Sur (Kamass), said members of the Magahat-Bagani killed Orlando Rabuca on Nov. 12 in his home in Sitio Hagimitan in Barangay Bolhoon.

Rabuca, 53, was vice chair of Kamass in Bolhoon.

Montero said the militiamen arrived in the village at 4 a.m. and proceeded to Rabuca’s house.

“They tried to tie Rabuca’s hands, but he ran away. He was shot outside his house,” Montero said.

Montero quoted witnesses as seeing two Magahat-Bagani members—Bugoy Acebedo and Berting Rivas—shoot Rabuca.

“There were at least 30 armed men, one of them was Garito Layno,” Montero said.

Layno was one of the Magahat-Bagani leaders tagged in the killings in Sitio Han-ayan in Barangay Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur, on Sept. 1.

Layno is suspected of killing Emerito Samarca, executive director of the Alternative Learning Center for Agriculture and Development (Alcadev) in Lianga. Layno was seen holding a bloodied knife minutes before Samarca’s body was found in a room at the Alcadev compound.

Samarca had been tied and his throat was slit.

Aside from Samarca, the paramilitary men are also accused of killing tribal leaders Dionel Campos and Datu Bello Sinzo.

A local court has issued warrants of arrest for Layno and brothers Loloy and Bobby Tejero, who were identified as those who led the Sept. 1 killings in Lianga.

At least 3,000 residents have evacuated after the killings and have since been staying at the sports complex in Tandag City.

In the Nov. 12 killing in San Miguel town, Montero said the suspects left a letter warning that more Kamass members would be killed.

Surigao del Sur Gov. Johnny Pimentel has repeatedly called on the police and military to arrest the suspects in the Sept. 1 killings, and for the disarming and disbandment of the Magahat-Bagani.

“The evacuees will not return to their homes as long as these paramilitary groups are there in their villages,” Pimentel said.

Immediately after the Sept. 1 killings, Pimentel said the Magahat-Bagani was created, trained, funded and armed by the military. This was denied by the military.

More than two months after the killings, not one of the suspects has been arrested.

“With what happened, the evacuees will surely not return to their homes,” said Pimentel by phone.

The site of the latest killing, Sitio Hamiguitan, is just a kilometer from a military detachment.

Montero said Rabuca, the latest victim, was farming a 3-hectare land planted with coconut and rice.

“Rabuca was an active Kamass officer. He recently succeeded in convincing landowners to raise the payment for farm workers from P150 to P200 daily,” Montero said.

Montero said members of Rabuca’s family are so scared that they refuse to talk.

“We have an informer in the area, but he asked not to be named because he fears the Magahat-Bagani would also kill him,” Montero said. Nico Alconaba, Inquirer Mindanao