Bukidnon - The chairperson and the secretary of a peasant organization were ambushed by unidentified assailants riding in tandem believed to be members of State security forces of the Philippines. The vicitms were JULIETO LAURON (Killed), a 41, male, married with 4 children and chairperson of Kahugpungan sa mga Mag-uuma (Kasama or Association of Farmers)-Vintar Chapter, Valencia City. The other one was NERMIE LAPATIS (Frustrated killing, survived with injuries), a 41, female, married, member of the Higaonon indigenous people’s tribe and secretary of Kahugpungan sa mga Mag-uuma (Kasama) – Vintar, Valencia City Chapter. The incident took place at Juanilla Village, Poblacion, Valencia City, Bukidnon province last February 5, 2014.
In the morning of February 5, 2014, Julieto Lauron was driving a motorcycle with Nermie Lapatis. They were on their way to the village of Hindangon, Valencia City when two unidentified men on a red motorcycle overtook them, blocked their way and immediately shot Lauron and Lapatis.
Lauron who was hit on his neck, chest and stomach immediately died, while Lapatis was hit in her right knee. The assailants quickly escaped.
A few days earlier, Lauron was elected chairperson of the local chapter of Kasama among farmers at Vintar village. The assembly was also attended by Lapatis and several other officials of Kasama-Valencia. In the said assembly, two unidentified men were reportedly seen taking pictures of participants. As of writing, Lapatis is confined at a hospital in Valencia City and is scheduled for a knee operation.
Lapatis and her family had moved in to Valencia City from Magkalungay village in San Fernando town, Bukidnon because of threats against her life. She was an organizer among indigenous peoples in Bukidnon. She actively campaigned against the entry of large-scale mining companies in the town. Her pro-people activities earned the ire of the military and paramilitary groups. She reported several incidents of harassments from the paramilitary group New Indigenous People’s Army for Reform (NIPAR); and the 8th Infantry Battalion Philippine Army. In Valencia, Lapatis continued her work helping several farmers in the different villages as secretary of Kasama – Valencia City chapter.
In October 2012, Kasama-Valencia and Kasama-Bukidnon launched a successful campaign for the increase of daily wages of farm workers – from the daily wage of PhP125 per day to PhP150 to 200.