Cagayan de Oro City— A land conflict in Sumilao town in Bukidnon resulted in the murder of three indigenous peoples on Tuesday inside the 2,400-hectare pasture land managed by Ramcar Inc.
The land was also claimed by the Inalsahan Indigenous Peoples’ Organization.
Bae Merlita Mayantao, one of the leaders of the IPO, said that one of her sons, Raymar, was killed by the security guards of Ramcar. The two other casualties were Rogen Sindangan and Cenon Nacaytona.
Lilian and Albert Mayantao and Ely Daliti sustained injuries.
Sumilao Police Station Chief Felipe Yap said that the killed and wounded were with 50 others when the security guards fired on them.
Senior Police Officer 2 Lorecito Pitogo, chief investigator of Sumilao police station, said that the victims entered the premises of the ranch by digging under the fence and installed their tents.
Fourteen security guards from Tagbagane security agency, which is manning the ranch, confronted the land claimants.
A heated argument between the groups ensued when the security guards opened fire with their shotguns.
The police arrested Jonathan Ursaiz, head guard of Tagbagane Security Agency and a resident of Lupiagan, Sumilao.
The police recovered three unit 12 gauge shotgun. Recovered from the crime scene were one fired cartridge shell of 12 gauge shotguns, one caliber .38 pistol and one Scythe near the victim Cenon Nacaytona.
Ramcar also figured in controversial land conflict in March 2012 against farmers from Xavier Farms Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association, also from Sumilao.