- Davao City solon urges police, gov’t agencies to bring killers to justice
THIRD-DISTRICT Rep. Isidro Ungab has asked the police and relevant government agencies to identify killers and stop the wanton killings of tribal leaders and IP members in Marilog District.
In an interview, Ungab said they already asked PNP chief Gen Benjamin Acorda, the Department of Justice, and the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the issue as at least 14 to 15 IP leaders were killed, mostly tribal leaders or council leaders of the Matigsalug tribe.
“I am happy about the response, aggressively acting on my request. First, General Delvo (PRO XI regional director) and the Davao City Police Office are very active in helping find those suspects, especially those with a warrant of arrest,” Ungab said at the sidelines of the IP Forum held at the DCPO headquarters on Thursday.
He said two individuals were already arrested, one was the suspect in the murder of Datu Domingo and Annabel Canete.
The congressman did not elaborate if the suspects were also tribe members but said they had a warrant of arrest. “That’s why I am also asking to investigate the armed group in the area since when it started, the [killings] happened,” he said.
But Ungab said several perpetrators are still on the run and continue to rein terror on the IP communities in his district. Nevertheless, the case is already with the Commission on Human Rights, NBI, and law enforcement agencies. Meanwhile, Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lt Gen Greg Almerol also committed to help.
In the second Indigenous People (IP) forum held at DCPO, Delvo said he organized the first IP summit to resolve the killings in Marilog. The police found that illegal selling, land-grabbing, and ancestral domain disputes were the typical motives of the killings.
“So, on my part, during my term, I would like to stop the killings in Marilog. So, this is the second IP summit with 3rd District Congressman Isidro Ungab to give insights since it is his area,” Delvo said.
The police started recording IP killings in 2016, which now reached 14.
“So, this is my third warning to those creating chaos in Marilog, my objective really is to end these killings,” he added.
Group behind the killings
“Naay nigawas sa atoang investigation and kadaghanan sa nagawasan ug warrant are the same names, and same suspects, who have a group in the area behind the selling [of land] and the tribal leaders know for sure these personalities,” he said.
He said additional personnel, particularly the 1st City Mobile Force Company, were deployed to the area to ensure more police visibility and quicker response.
“[Then] I was glad that Congressman Ungab reported that the area is peaceful already because they are conducting daily patrols in the area as part of the security operation,” he added.
