Solve Davao tribesman’s murder, nuns press authorities

MANILA, Philippines - Davao City-based nuns pressed local authorities Tuesday to speedily solve the murder of a tribal chieftain and his family two weeks ago. An article posted on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website on Tuesday said it has been two weeks since Bagobo-Klata tribal chief Dominador Diarog was killed. "We appeal to the city government for a speedy investigation so that justice will soon be served," said Sr. Marietta Banayo of the Missionaries of the Assumption was quoted in the article as saying. Diarog and his family were inside their home in Manuel Guianga in Davao City when unidentified gunmen strafed his house. Diarog was killed in the incident. Banayo said the killing of an innocent tribal chieftain deserves condemnation as it blatantly shows disrespect to the indigenous peoples' culture. She added the government should be sensitive with this issue as it also affects the peaceful existence of the indigenous communities in the city. Banayo, president of the Assumption College of Davao (ACD), also called on concerned organizations to look into this case seriously so justice will be properly rendered. "It is sad to note that sometimes justice is being compromised in favor of the mighty while the least of our citizens who were victims still suffer," Banayo said. Earlier reports indicated police are looking into the possibility that a land dispute was the motive behind the murder. Police are also verifying allegations that preacher Apollo Quiboloy, who calls himself "Son of God," offered Diarog P50,000 twice to convert their ancestral domain to planting pine trees around the prayer mountain. But Quiboloy sent a statement to the CBCP denying the allegations. "We do not wish to dignify the initial reports linking our congregation to the unfortunate incident that happened in a nearby barangay adjacent to the covenant mountain and prayer center in Tamayong," Quiboloy said. "We strongly deny these as totally false and baseless, if not ridiculous," he added. In the meantime, Banayo said it is all the more imperative for the local government to come up with a proper and impartial investigation. "We trust in God that in due time the truth shall come out," Banayo said. She also asked the people to pray for justice for Diarog so that the real culprits will really serve their sentence. - GMANews.TV