On 5 March 2012, human rights defender Mr Jimmy Liguyon was shot dead outside his home in Barangay Dao, reportedly by a leader of a paramilitary group. Jimmy Liguyon was the Vice Chairperson of Kasilo an organisation of indigenous peoples from the southern municipalities of Bukidon. Kasilo works at defending and promoting land rights, the sustainable use of environmental resources, and the culture and practices of Indigenous Peoples, and organises cultural activities for indigenous youths. Jimmy Liguyon was also the Barangay Captain of Dao and in this capacity had refused to allow mining companies to operate on the local land.
On 5 March 2012, at approximately 6 p.m. Jimmy Liguyon, was shot at close range outside his home in Barangay Dao, San Fernando, Bukidon. Witnesses have testified that he was shot by Aldy “Butsoy” Salusad, whose father, Ben Salusad, is head of the armed defence group of the SANMATRIDA (San Fernando Matigsalug Tribal Datus), a group which holds a Certificate of Ancestral Domain and have been enticing mining companies into their domain since 2009.
The perpetrator reportedly arrived at the home of Jimmy Liguyon accompanied by 15 other individuals where the human rights defender was sitting on a bench with his two brothers. Witnesses stated that Aldy “Butsoy” Sausad ordered him to move to another bench and as he did so Aldy “Butsoy” Sausad shot and killed him. It is reported that he shouted that he had killed the human rights defender because he had refused to sign any agreements with SANMATRIDA and he warned that anyone else who went against them would also be killed. As of 14 March, the local police had made no arrest nor charged any individual with the killing.
In his capacity as Barangay captain of Dao, Jimmy Liguyon had refused to sign agreements with mining companies allowing them access to operate on the ancestral lands of Indigenous Peoples. He also refused to recognise ancestral domain claims over the lands by SANMATRIDA's.
Jimmy Liguyon had been subjected to threats since he became Barangay Captain and death threats against him had increased over the past year. On 28 October 2011, he and his wife were coming home from a human rights rally in Cagayan de Oro City, Dal-anay, when they were stopped by armed men. They were brought to a vacant house where the human rights defender was ordered by Angge Dal-anay, a leader of a local armed group, to stop joining rallies and to allow mining in Baran. On 16 October, members of SANMATRIDA visited the home of the human rights defender however, he was not in at the time. Following the visit, his family moved out of Dao. On 13 October Ben Salusad called Jimmy Liguyon, who was then attending a seminar in Cagayan de Oro, and threatened him saying he would be killed if he returned to Dao.
Front Line Defenders expresses grave concern at the killing of human rights defender Jimmy Liguyon and believes that his killing is directly related to his human right activities and in particular his work in the defence of the rights of indigenous peoples in Barangay Dao.
Front Line urges the authorities in the Philippines to:
1. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the killing of Jimmy Liguyon with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;
2. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of human rights defenders working in the defence of land rights and the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Barangay Dao;
3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Philippines are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.
