By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com

MANILA — A member of Taga-Kaulo tribe was killed inside his home in Sulok Talaod subvillage, Ticulon village, Malita, Davao del Sur, August 4, by suspected state agents.

According to human rights group Barugkatungod, a man knocked on the door of Dioquino Scuadro’s house at around 10:15 that night. When Scuadro refused to open the door, three armed men forced the door open and shot Scuadro.

Scuadro’s daughter Jinky witnessed the incident. The three gunmen went to the road leading to Little Baguio village in Malita.

Scuadro, 49, was an active member of Pig-unawan (Unity), an indigenous people’s organization asserting their rights to ancestral domain and self-determination.
He was active in campaigns against mining and land grabbing of their ancestral domain.

Barugkatungod said Scuadro and his relatives were placed under the watch list of the 39th Infantry Battalion Philippine Army and accused of supporting the New People’s Army (NPA).

The group said a food blockade has been imposed by the 39th IB in the villages of Pangaleon, Manuel Peralta, Little Baguio, Datu Danwata in Malita. Every civilian is only allowed to bring three to five kilograms of rice.

Barugkatungod said the incidents are “a clear manifestation that Oplan Bayanihan, the counter-insurgency operational plan of the Aquino administration, creates fear among the populace and not really brings peace and development.”

The group called on the local government of Malita, Davao del Sur, Davao del Sur Provincial Governor, Douglas Ra. Cagas to address the worsening human rights situation in Malita, Davao del Sur.

They also asked for support from church people, lawyers and human rights advocates. They said the attacks on human rights could hamper the farming activities of the indigenous people in their ancestral domain.

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