Tribal leader killed in Oriental Mindoro

MANILA, Philippines - A Mangyan tribal leader, who actively supported development projects in his community, was kidnapped and killed by suspected communist rebels in Oriental Mindoro last week. 

1st Lt. Melchor Durante, spokesman for the Army’s 4th Infantry Battalion, said the victim, identified as Ariston Mameng, was shot dead by 10 armed men in Bulalacao town on July 20.

 Citing the statements of Mameng’s family members, Durante said the armed men, who introduced themselves as members of the New People’s Army (NPA), barged into the victim’s house in Sitio Yunot in Barangay Nasukob at around 8 p.m.

Durante said the armed men handcuffed and dragged the victim.

”The family witnessed this but they were frozen in fear. They were afraid that they might get hurt,” he said.

After 10 minutes, Mameng’s family heard four gunshots believed to be from high-powered firearms. At around 5 a.m. the following day, Mameng’s wife Nelia and a companion found the victim’s body in a nearby river. The victim suffered four bullet wounds in different parts of the body.