ECIP statement on the killing of Dexter Condez, Ati leader

Last night, February 22, 2013, Mr. Dexter Condez, 26 years old and an Ati leader of Boracay Island was shot dead. He just finished attending a meeting and was on his way home to the Atis’ ancestral domain in Barangay Manoc-manoc when an unidentified gunman shot him several times in the body.

We condemn in the strongest possible manner this brutal killing and we are calling for an immediate and thorough investigation to identify the perpetuator and the master minds. We urge the Administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III to take all possible means to solve this case promptly. The Ati people of Boracay together with the Ati Mission of Sto. Rosario Parish and the ECIP-IPA are yelling for JUSTICE!

Dexter Condez was the spokesperson of the Ati people against those who oppose their ancestral domain claims. A partner-member of the Ati Mission of Sto. Rosario Parish, he also taught Indigenous Peoples Education among Ati children.

On 3 August 2010, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) en banc issued a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) RO6-MAL-0610-157 for the Ati community which was later registered with the Land Registration Authority (LRA). Last April 17, 2012, members of Boracay Ati Tribal Organization (BATO) installed themselves in the 2.1-hectare CADT lot in Barangay Manoc-manoc.

Even with government-issued CADT and assistance from legitimate government agencies, several interest groups (Banico, Sanson and Gelito families) insisted that the Ati people are not the owners of the said land. Threats and intimidations against the Ati occured several times since they lawfully occupied their land. There will be no peace for the Ati people of Boracay until the issue of their ancestral domain is fully resolved and justice is done for their fallen leader.

We pray for Dexter and his family! We pray and seek justice for all victims of extra judicial killings!

For the Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples-Indigenous Peoples Apostolates (ECIP-IPA)

(SGD) MOST REV. SERGIO L. UTLEG, D.D.
Archbishop of Tuguegarao and ECIP Chairperson

Human Rights Online Philippines does not hold copyright over these materials. Author/s and original source/s of information are retained including the URL contained within the tagline and byline of the articles, news information, photos etc.