SPECIAL Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo has called for immediate justice for Teduray Indigenous Peoples leader Ramon Lupos, who was brutally killed at his farm in Maguindanao del Sur.
In a statement on Wednesday, Lagdameo joined officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in condemning the gruesome murder of Lupos, whose beheaded body was discovered in his hut in Barangay Limpogo, Datu Hoffer, on September 30.
The 60-year-old community leader was among the last remaining non-Moro Indigenous figures in the area.
Lagdameo emphasized that the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains steadfast in upholding peace and protecting vulnerable groups within the Bangsamoro region.
“Our President envisions a society that prioritizes not only peace but also the human rights of every Filipino. This is a testament to our united desire for these goals,” Lagdameo said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to normalization and justice in BARMM.
BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua likewise condemned the incident, describing it as an “affront to peace, justice, and human dignity.”
Macacua acknowledged the ongoing injustices faced by non-Moro Indigenous Peoples in the region and ordered law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough and swift investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.
“As we honor the life of Mr. Ramon Lupos, we reaffirm our solemn commitment that justice will be relentlessly pursued, not only for him and his family but for all Indigenous Peoples who long for peace, dignity, and protection in our homeland,” he said.