Senator seeks probe into killings of non-Moro IPs in BARMM

SENATOR LOREN Legarda on Monday filed a resolution calling for a Senate inquiry into reported violence and killings of Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (NMIPs) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), citing concerns over impunity and the protection of indigenous communities.

One of the victims, Teduray-Lambangian tribal chieftain Fernando Promboy, was found decapitated near a reservoir in Maguindanao del Sur on Feb. 19. He was known for opposing armed intrusions into ancestral lands.

“Beyond ensuring accountability for specific incidents of violence, there is a pressing need to reinforce the rule of law and establish clear, enforceable mechanisms that safeguard the rights and security of NMIPs,” Legarda said in Senate Resolution No. 1329.

Multiple organizations have reported conflicting data on the scale of violence.

The Timuay Justice and Governance and Climate Conflict Action recorded 84 NMIP killings between 2014 and 2024, while the Police Regional Office-BARMM reported 36 during the same period. The Commission on Human Rights cited 79 victims from 2018 to 2024, including women and youth.

Legarda said the discrepancies underscore the need for independent validation and a comprehensive investigation.

The resolution likewise seeks to assess challenges NMIPs face in accessing justice and the adequacy of protection mechanisms; and evaluate how the Bangsamoro Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act, passed in December 2024 as part of BARMM’s foundational legislation, is being implemented. (Wilnard Bacelonia/PNA)