4,000 indigenes mark 40th day of unsolved lumad killings with rally

By BEN SERRANO,
Correspondent

BUTUAN CITY — Some four thousand indigenes, peasants, workers, fisher-folks, human rights group, and religious groups coming from three provinces of Caraga Region marked the 40th day of the still unresolved lumad killings in Surigao del Sur with an indignation rally on Saturday, October 10.

Delegates from Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, and Surigao del Sur held their protest action, here.

The mass protest rally was in commemoration of the 40th day of memorial service of slain tribal school Alcadev director Emerico Samarca, Datu Aurelio Sinzo, and lumad cooperative Mapasu chair Dionel Campos. The three were brutally killed in front of their tribal folk in Sitio Hinandayan, Km 16, Baran-gay Diatagon, Lianga town in Surigao del Sur on September 1.

The protesters questioned why until now the National Police and Army in Caraga Region––which has all the resources, intelligence network and firepower in its disposal––still find it difficult to arrest Loloy Tejero, Bobby Tejero and Margarito “Garito” Layno including the 20 armed John Does mentioned in the multiple murder charges.

“The killings were plan-ned and systematic to instill fear, silence, and to drive out communities and schools from Barangay Diatagon that, for a long time, prevented the entry of private businesses salivating at the timber and mineral resource in these mountains,” the joint statement of Mapasu, Bagong Alyansang Makaba-yan, and Gabriela reads in part.

The killings have caused the massive evacuation of some 3,125 individuals mostly lumads.

“The interest of the bandit groups of Marcos Boca-les-Marcial Belandres-Datu Calpet Egua are clearly to claim the right to the ancestral land, to sell this to any business that would give them money, control over the communities and limitless luxury. In exchange for the resources in ancestral lands are the future of the Lumad communities and the rights of all the residents,” the joint statement reads.

Protesters first held a mass at Emerito’s grave at Uraya Cemetery, this city in commemoration of his 40th day after his gruesome death.

After which a noise barrage was held at the Army’s Headquarters at Barangay Bancasi, this city which is near Uraya Cemetery, to demand justice and the arrests of the suspects in the September 1 lumad killings.

The protesters also held a noise barrage at the Caraga police Headquarters at Camp Rafael Rodriguez, Barangay Libertad, this city.

They urged Caraga Police Regional Director and Surigao del Sur Provincial Police Director Senior Supt. Narciso Verdadero to follow the official recommendations and results of the October 1-2 Senate Inquiry––to immediately arrest the three primary suspects and immediately identify the 20 armed companions of the three who have been identified by witnesses as members of the armed lumad militia, the Magahat Group.

From PRO-13, protesters marched at city streets of Butuan City and assemble at Guingona Park (formerly Rizal Park) of Butuan City and held a short program.

At about 3 pm, the protesters quitely dispersed.