Davao police: Dead Lumad not from UCCP Haran

CONTRARY to earlier reports, authorities clarified that the Lumad, who reportedly died from an infectious disease, is not among those staying at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Haran.

Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Director Police Colonel Kirby John Kraft said during their investigation, the Lumad, identified as Arnel Labando, 19, is not one of those indigenous people (IPs) staying inside the Haran compound.

Labando's body was placed only inside a body bag and buried at Wireless Cemetery, allegedly without a permit.

"In-depth investigation conducted by DCPO-PS2 San Pedro revealed that said buried person is indeed a Lumad but not from UCCP Haran as initially reported," Kraft said.

During their interview with the father of Arnel identified as Alex Labando, Kraft said Arnel had a history of tuberculosis. He was rushed to Brokenshire Integrated Health Ministries Inc., Brokenshire Heights, Madapo Davao City on June 11 and died on the same day around 9:25 p.m. due to acute respiratory failure secondary to community-acquired pneumonia high risk.

Given his health condition, he is considered as a coronavirus disease (Covid-19) suspect. However, pulmonary tuberculosis was stated in the hospital medical certificate signed by the attending physician Dr. Hansel Magno Jr.

"The father stated that due to poverty, they were forced to bury his son without a coffin. It is not true that they did not secure a permit as they even paid P7,040 at the City Economic Enterprise under the Office of the City Administrator," Kraft added.

He also said, "The burial took place at around 6:15 p.m. June 12, even without a death certificate, at the compartmentalized niche of Wireless Public Cemetery as there is a need for the immediate burial due to infectious disease."

Labandon is from the Kaolo tribe from Malita, Davao Occidental, and has been in the city for two years. Along with other siblings, they are working as car wash boys and staying at Yuraja Car and bike detailing at Ecoland. They still owe the hospital P25,000 of unpaid balance, the reason why his death certificate was not yet released.

Kraft said that PS2 coordinated with the Regional Crime Laboratory Office (RCLO) Davao and the Davao City Health Office for the exhumation of the body, however, it did not push through. Also, the chief environmental sanitation division did not issue an exhumation permit to the police due to law prohibiting the exhumation of infectious cases until after five years.

"RCLO 11 medico-legal PMAJ Dr. Ma Felicidad Mercedes Aulida said that there is no need to exhume since there is already a medical certificate identifying the cause of death and considering also the law prohibiting the exhumation of infectious cases until after 5 years from the day of burial," Kraft said.

Meanwhile, Datu Mentroso Malibato, the vice-chair of Pasaka, in a phone interview with SunStar Davao, lambasted the false information on the alleged death of a third person while staying inside Haran.

Malibato said there are only two infants who died from Haran, a seven-month-old and three-month-old baby, who died from pneumonia and not from Covid-19.

To avoid contamination of over a hundred Lumad staying in Haran, Malibato said they prohibit visitors from coming inside their facility and follow the safety health standards set by the government such as regular handwashing.

In response to the call for the release of the Lumad in the facility of UCCP Haran, Malibato reiterated that the presence of the IPs inside the facility is to let the government hear their clamor.

He said they will not leave the facility unless their demands are granted, such as they pull out the military from the hinterland, resumption of the operation of schools, sustainable agriculture, dismantling of Alamara, social services, and justice.

Meanwhile, SunStar Davao tried to get a comment from Brokenshire Hospital but it has not yet responded.