We called on the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate the suspicious killing of a young Lumad farmer in Surigao del Sur last June.
Manobo farmer Elioterio Ugking, 25, was killed inside the patrol base of the 9th Special Forces Company (SFC) in Km. 9, Sitio Simowao, Barangay Diatagon, Lianga town on June 6, 2025. Ugking was allegedly shot accidentally by a member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) during an altercation and fell onto rocky ground.
Ugking’s family, however, is not buying it. The Cafgu member arrested for Ugking’s killing reportedly disclosed to other detainees at the Lianga Municipal Police Station that the victim was mauled while his hands were tied. Ugking’s family believes that the Cafgu member is merely a fall guy or was not alone and that others from the Philippine Army unit may have been involved in Ugking’s killing.
The fact that the 9th SFC reportedly went to Ugking’s family telling them not to report the incident to human rights groups or post it on social media in exchange for money is further fueling the family’s suspicions.
The CHR must get to the bottom of this so that Ugking’s family can have the justice and closure they are seeking.
There have reportedly been many suspicious killings in the area involving the military but the victims’ families have kept quiet after being threatened. It is high time that the perpetrators of such dastardly crimes are identified and held accountable.