Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets to inform you that an indigenous man was killed by members of paramilitary group in Bukidnon. The victim sustained wounds on different parts of his body from a gunshot and a machete. The victim’s grandchildren and other community members were also wounded in the incident.
CASE DETAILS: (Based on the documentation by Katungod Lumad Alert and Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights (KARAPATAN))
On 27 October 2015, at 2p.m., 46-year-old Mankombante Mariano, and 16 others from Sitio Balaudo, St. Peter, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon were on their way to Dulmatong to pick durians. Dumaltong is a forested area in Barangay Canangaan in Cabanglasan, Bukidnon. It was a yearly event for the Talaandig community of Sitio Balaudo to gather durian.
Mankombante led the group, while one of his grandchildren, ‘Dodong’, (alias) was behind him. They were about five meters from a durian tree they planned to pick fruit from, when a series of shots were fired from the direction of the tree. The shots hit Mariano on the chest and hip, while Dodong was hit on his left leg. The rest of their companions ran backwards, but Mariano and Dodong could not move for their injuries. Dodong fell to the ground, rolled down the hillside and hid behind abaca plants.
From Dodong’s location he saw Manlumakad Bocalas run towards his grandfather, who was also lying on the ground, with a machete in his hand. Mariano was hacked in the head, left shoulder and left thigh. The other assailant, Mankolobi Bocalas, was aiming his rifle at the others who fled.
Dodong attempted to run, and was shot again in his right leg. He bravely stood up ignoring the wounds he sustained and ran. Mankolabi followed him with gunfire. Some bullets hit Dodong’s school backpack with notebooks, although he was shot on his right shoulder, thigh, and left arm and hip. Before sunset, Dodong returned to the place of the incident and saw his grandfather’s dead body.
At 7 p.m., ‘Nena’(alias), Mankombante’s granddaughter, was able to reach Sitio Balaudo with the others. She experienced a numbing of the right leg and found that she had a bullet wound there. Other companions arrived at 2 a.m. the following day, having stayed in the forest without food or water.
On 28 October 2015, the community leaders decided to return to Dumaltong and look for their companions in the early morning. They retrieved Mariano’s body near the durian tree. They also found Dodong, who was alive but wounded and weak, lying a few meters behind some bushes.
The perpetrators, Mankolobi Bocalas and Manlumakad Bocalas are reportedly members of the dela Mance Group, which is believed to be part of the Alamara, a bigger paramilitary group based in the mountains on the Bukidnon and Davao boundary, including the Pantaron Range.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the authorities listed below expressing your concern about the cases.
The AHRC is also writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions and has informed the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
PHILIPPINES: Indigenous man from Talaandig tribe killed by paramilitary in Bukidnon
Name of killed victim: Mankombante Mariano, 46 years old, He belongs to Talaandig community.
Names of wounded victims:
1. ‘Dodong’(not his real name) grandson of Mankombante. He was hit on his left leg.
2. ‘Nena’ (not his real name) grand daughter of Mankombante. She was hit on her left leg.
Alleged Perpetrators: Mankolobi Bocalas and Manlumakad Bocalas, allegedly belong to Dela Mance paramilitary group
Date of incident: On 27 October 2015, at 2p.m.,
Place of incident: Dumaltong, a forested area in Barangay Canangaan in Cabanglasan, Bukidnon.
I am writing to raise my grave concern on the killing of an indigenous man.
On 27 October 2015, at 2p.m., Mankombante Mariano, a Talaandig from Sitio Balaudo, St. Peter, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon together with other community members went to pick durian fruits.
A series of shots were fired from the direction of the durian tree they planned to pick from.
Mariano was shot on the chest and hip, while his grandson Dodong (alias) was hit on his left leg. Dodong fell to the ground, rolled down the hillside and hid behind abaca plants. The rest of their companions ran away, but Mariano and Dodong could not move.
From Dodong’s location he saw Manlumakad Bocalas, holding a machete, run towards his grandfather lying on the ground. Mariano was hacked in the head, left shoulder and left thigh. The other assailant, Mankolobi Bocalas, was aiming his rifle at the others who fled.
Dodong attempted to run and was shot again in his right leg. He bravely stood up ignoring the wounds he sustained and ran. Mankolabi followed him with gunfire. Some bullets hit Dodong’s school backpack with notebooks, although he was shot on his right shoulder, thigh, and left arm and hip. Before sunset Dodong returned to the place of the incident and saw his grandfather’s dead body.
At 7 p.m., ‘Nena’(alias), Mankombante’s granddaughter, was able to reach Sitio Balaudo with the others. She experienced a numbing of the right leg and found that she had a bullet wound there. Other companions arrived at 2 a.m. the following day, having stayed in the forest without food or water.
On 28 October 2015, the community leaders decided to return to Dumaltong and look for their companions in the early morning. They retrieved Mariano’s body from near the durian tree. They also found Dodong, who was alive but wounded and weak, lying a few meters behind some bushes.
The perpetrators, Mankolobi Bocalas and Manlumakad Bocalas, are reportedly members of the dela Mance Group, believed to be part of the Alamara, a bigger paramilitary group based in the mountains on the Bukidnon and Davao boundary, including the Pantaron Range.
I urge you to conduct an impartial and adequate investigation into the killing and shooting of innocent civilians. I further urge you to ensure that the family of the victims must be given adequate protection should they decide to prosecute. Also, please ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.
I trust that you will take appropriate action in these cases.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Benigno Aquino III
President
Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace
JP Laurel Street, San Miguel
Manila 1005
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 736 1010
Tel: +63 2 735 6201 / 564 1451 to 80
2. Mr. Jose Luis Martin Gascon
Chairperson
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 929 0102
3. Police Director Ricardo Marquez
Chief
Philippine National Police (PNP)
Camp General Rafael Crame,
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax +632 7248763
Email: feedback@pnp.gov.ph
4. Ms. Leila de Lima
Secretary
Department of Justice (DOJ)
DOJ Bldg., Padre Faura
1004 Manila
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 521 1614
E-mail: soj@doj.gov.ph
5. Leonor T. Oralde-Quintayo
Chair
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
2/F N. dela Merced Bldg. corner West &
Quezon Ave., Quezon City
Tel: +63 2 373-9942
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) (ua@ahrc.asia)
