2 tribal leaders executed before horrified villagers

From the Manila Bulletin (Jan 10): 2 tribal leaders executed before horrified villagers

Butuan City – A chieftain of the Higanonon tribe yesterday appealed to local authorities for the immediate investigation of two highland tribal leaders – a father and son who were mercilessly killed by unidentified armed men before horrified villagers in the most hinterland and far-flung area of Bunsalam, Barangay Simbalan, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.

Higanonon tribal chieftain Datu Bawang, who made his impassioned call in vernacular at a local radio station here yesterday, appealed to police authorities, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) to help them solve the killing of their sectoral tribal leaders in Bunsalam area, Barangay Simbalan, in Buenavista town, Agusan del Norte.

The Higanonon tribal chieftain said Victor Mansamahan, known in the Higaonon tribe as “Datu Pahinaan” bore seven stab wounds and was buried in a shallow grave  near the make-shift house of the victim while his son Ronilo Mansamahan, Bunsalam leader of Higaonon tribe, also was shot once in the head and twice in other parts of his body.

Datu Bawang claimed that the son was killed before their horrified villagers, all belonging to the Higanonon tribe.

“Mihangyo kami sa hintungdan ahensya sa gobyerno nga masulbad kining niloog nga pagpatay sa among mga sectoral leaders sa Simbalan (We appeal to concerned government agencies to help solve the grisly killing of our sectoral leaders in Simbalan),” Datu Bawang appealed over a Bombo Radyo live interview yesterday.

The Higaonon tribal chieftain also appealed to all Higanonons to stay calm and let due process of the law to prevail.

Datu Bawang claimed that Datu Ronilo Mansamahan was dragged from his house by an undetermined number of heavily armed men the other day and hogtied him before shooting him to death. “Gipatay intawon sya atubangan sa iyang mga katawhan ginamit ang taas nga armas” (He was brutally killed before his horrified people using long firearm), he said.

Datu Bawang said the father, Datu Pahinaan, was also dragged and brought to a nearby grassy area where he was murdered by the suspects.

“Ang iyang patayng lawas nakaplagan na lang sa atong katawhan nga gilubong sa mabaw nga lubnganan ug dunay pito ka mga dinunggaban (Our villagers found his dead body in a shallow grave with seven stab wounds),” he added.

http://www.mb.com.ph/2-tribal-leaders-executed-before-horrified-villagers/