The Philippine National Police (PNP) has condemned the
killing a tribal leader and his companion on Wednesday afternoon in Panabo City
Regional Director Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan has
also ordered the Acting Provincial Director of the Davao del Norte Police
Provincial Office Director Sr. Superintendent Ferdinand Sifuentes to create a
Special Investigation Task Group to look into the killing and exert maximum
effort to solve the case and file appropriate charges against the assailants.
Datu Ruben Labawan, a tribal leader known for his
anti-communist stance, was killed while his companion died later in a hospital
due to gunshot wounds during an afternoon ambush staged by armed men in Purok
Talong, Barangay Gredu in Panabo City, Davao del Norte on Wednesday.
Panabo City Police chief Alvin Saguban reported that six
armed men on board three motorcycles staged an ambush killing on the spot the
leader of the Ata tribe in Paquibato District while his companion Romeo
Escosar, 49, a resident of Purok Mangga in Barangay Gredu was injured but later
declared dead on arrival at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in
Davao City.
Saguban said Labawan came from a meeting called by the
National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) for tribal leaders from Davao
The meeting was organized to discuss a priority project for
the lumads called the Slope Agriculture Land Technology (SALT) of the
Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources,
NCIP, TESDA and the Municipal Agrarian Reform Office.
Labawan has been actively supporting the Peace and
Development Outreach Program or Oplan Bayanihan of the Philippine Army that has
been opposed by the New People's Army (NPA) and criticized by the progressive
humanitarian advocates because it allegedly brings fear among the indigenous
peoples in the hinterlands.
In the initial police investigation, it was learned that
Labawan and Escosar, who was driving the motorcycle they were riding, were
tailed by the armed men earlier seen waiting near the restaurant.
The ambush took place about 800 meters from the restaurant.
Witnesses told investigators that they saw the suspects speeding towards Davao City
Saguban said they found five empty shells of caliber .45
pistol from the crime scene and two deformed slugs of unknown caliber.
Saguban said they still have not identified the suspects
behind the ambush. Asked if those responsible are members of the NPA, Saguban
said they just label them as lawless armed groups.
It was learned that Wednesday’s incident was the second
attempt on Labawan’s life.
Police authorities assured the public that they will do
their best to prevent further similar incidents and to secure peace and order
in the community at all times.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=901955
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