Task force to probe lumad killings

MANILA, Philippines - A task force has been created to ensure the immediate arrest of the suspects in the killings of leaders of lumads or indigenous peoples leaders in Lianga, Surigao del Sur.

Capt. Joe Martinez, spokesman for the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (ID), said Joint Task Force Tejeros was created during a meeting of local and security officials at the Surigao del Sur provincial capitol on Wednesday. 

“We will provide the necessary resources to support the PNP (Philippine National Police) on this law enforcement operation,” said Maj. Gen. Oscar Lactao, chief of the 4th ID. 

Surigao del Sur Gov. Johnny Pimentel presided over the meeting, which was attended by Police Regional Office 13 deputy regional director for operations Senior Superintendent Gregorio Pimentel, 402nd Infantry Brigade chief Col. Isidro Purisima and Surigao del Sur police director Narciso Verdadero.

Pimentel said the task force was ordered to arrest suspects Loloy and Bobby Tejeros, the alleged leaders of the Magahat-Bagani force and 20 others.

Activists blame the military for the killings, saying the executions were carried out as part of the campaign against communist rebels.  They accused members of an Army-supported paramilitary group in the killing of Emerito Samarca, director of Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development, and lumad leaders Dionel Campos and Bello Sinzo in Barangay Diatagon last Sept. 1. 

Members of the human rights group Karapatan trooped to the Department of Justice on Thursday to present several members of the IP group, including relatives and potential witnesses.

The military said tribal conflict was behind the killings, adding lumads who are former members of the New People’s Army created the Magahat-Bagani Force. – With Edu Punay, Ben Serrano