SLAIN IP LEADER. Murdered leader Merlin Ansabu Celis, 50, of the Manobo indigenous community in Barangay Mahongkog, Magpet, North Cotabato is shown in this file photo preparing for food of tribal members during an undated gathering. She was killed on Sunday (Aug. 23, 2020) by two suspects for still unknown reasons. (Photo courtesy of Magpet LGU)
MAGPET, North Cotabato--Police and Army troopers are in pursuit of two armed suspects who shot dead a female indigenous people (IP) leader here on Sunday.
Police Major Judgie Barotas, municipal police chief, identified the victim as Merlin Ansabu Celis, 50, leader of the Manobo community in Sitio Tagaytay, Barangay Mahongcog in this town.
The suspects were identified as Bonileto Rubito and Rupino Rubito, both residents of the same village.
The victim, together with daughter Jovelyn, were walking toward their farm at neighboring Sitio Vee around 2:30 p.m. when fired upon by the suspects with a 12-gauge shotgun.
As she fell, one of the suspects finished her off using a machete.
“The daughter managed to escape and has sought help to a nearby house,” Barotas said.
The suspects run towards the direction of adjacent Sitio Kiapat, Barangay Ganatan, Arakan, which is now being scoured by members of the Magpet police and the Army’s 72nd Infantry Battalion. Police investigators are looking at personal grudge as a possible motive behind the killing.
North Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco, meanwhile, has strongly condemned the incident, saying that those behind the killing should be arrested soonest.
“This act may instill fear among our IP sisters and brothers whose only desire is to live in our ancestral domain according to our culture and tradition,” said Catamco, a member of Manobo-Dulangan tribe, in a strongly-worded statement.
Catamco called on the police to dig deeper into the case.
“No stone should be left unturned in ferreting out the truth behind this cowardly act,” the governor said, even as she assured the victim’s family that the government will not abandon them and urged the tribe to remain strong amid the incident.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1113186
Police Major Judgie Barotas, municipal police chief, identified the victim as Merlin Ansabu Celis, 50, leader of the Manobo community in Sitio Tagaytay, Barangay Mahongcog in this town.
The suspects were identified as Bonileto Rubito and Rupino Rubito, both residents of the same village.
The victim, together with daughter Jovelyn, were walking toward their farm at neighboring Sitio Vee around 2:30 p.m. when fired upon by the suspects with a 12-gauge shotgun.
As she fell, one of the suspects finished her off using a machete.
“The daughter managed to escape and has sought help to a nearby house,” Barotas said.
The suspects run towards the direction of adjacent Sitio Kiapat, Barangay Ganatan, Arakan, which is now being scoured by members of the Magpet police and the Army’s 72nd Infantry Battalion. Police investigators are looking at personal grudge as a possible motive behind the killing.
North Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco, meanwhile, has strongly condemned the incident, saying that those behind the killing should be arrested soonest.
“This act may instill fear among our IP sisters and brothers whose only desire is to live in our ancestral domain according to our culture and tradition,” said Catamco, a member of Manobo-Dulangan tribe, in a strongly-worded statement.
Catamco called on the police to dig deeper into the case.
“No stone should be left unturned in ferreting out the truth behind this cowardly act,” the governor said, even as she assured the victim’s family that the government will not abandon them and urged the tribe to remain strong amid the incident.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1113186
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