ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR – TVI Resource Development (Phils.) Inc. (TVIRD) appealed on Thursday to the Philippine National Police and other law enforcers of the government to maintain peace and order in Bayog town in Zamboanga del Sur province in Mindanao as it condemned the brutal killing of the 11-year old son of Timuay Lucenio Manda and the attempt of the Timuay’s life in an ambush perpetrated by several armed men Tuesday morning in the village of Datagan.
Lawyer Eugene Mateo, TVIRD President, said the killing of Jordan Manda and the wounding of his father shows blatant violation of laws that will result to more bloodshed if law enforcers will fail to maintain peace and order in Bayog.
“TVIRD strongly condemns the ambush that resulted to the death of the innocent son of Timuay Manda. Our hearts bleed for him and his innocent son. Vicious crime such as this should have no place in a country that professes Christianity and brotherhood. We could only hope that our law enforcers, the PNP and the military will not only condemn the killing but act accordingly to enforce our laws,” Mateo said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
Timuay Manda, a second termer barangay chairman of Conacon in Bayog, is a peace-loving tribal head, who always upholds the interest of his constituents and tribesmen.
“As we grieve the death of Jordan and the wounding of his father, we are also hoping that this incident will open the eyes of our law enforcers. We trust that lip service will stop and that the people of Bayog will see comcrete actions from them,” he added.
Timuay Manda and his son Jordan were on their way to the lone government school in the village of Datagan when waylaid by unidentified armed men at around 6 a.m. on Tuesday.
While Manda was hit on his shoulder, his son was fatally hit on the head killing him instantly.
“We know that the Timuay supports legal and responsible mining operation and abhors the illegal ones. Since he always upholds the law and the best interest of his constituents and tribesmen, we call on our authorities to investigate and arrest the perpetrators so justice may be served to the family of Timuay Manda. He deserved no less than that,” Mateo said.
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