The Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP) has condemned the Sept. 30 killing of Teduray leader Ramon Lupos of Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao del Sur, calling it a ‘serious affront to peace, justice, and the rights of indigenous peoples’ in Mindanao.
In a statement sent to reporters, Special Assistant to the President Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr. said Malacañang stands with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in denouncing the attack and in seeking swift justice for Lupos and his family.
‘Mr. Lupos was one of the few remaining non-Moro Indigenous Peoples leaders in the area, and his murder is an affront to the peace and justice that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his administration are firmly committed to uphold,’ Lagdameo said. ‘Our President envisions a society that prioritizes not only peace but also the human rights of every Filipino. We are steadfast in protecting all communities, including non-Moro Indigenous Peoples in the Bangsamoro region,’ Lagdameo added.
Lagdameo also reaffirmed OSAP’s mandate to ensure that the concerns of vulnerable and marginalized groups are heard and that their ancestral rights are respected.
Authorities are still investigating the circumstances behind the killing.
‘This heinous act will not deter the path toward genuine, inclusive peace. We call on all relevant agencies to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice without delay,’ Lagdameo said. /mr