Legarda seeks Senate inquiry into NMIP killings in BARMM

Senator Loren Legarda has filed a resolution seeking a Senate inquiry into reported killings and acts of violence against Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (NMIPs) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Legarda's move follows the brutal killing of Teduray-Lambangian tribal chieftain Fernando Promboy, whose body was found beheaded near a water reservoir in Maguindano del Sur on February 19.

The resolution directs the Senate to assess challenges faced by NMIPs in BARMM, including barriers to justice and the need for strengthened legal interventions.

Legarda cited figures from Timuay Justice and Governance (TJG) and Climate Conflict Action (CCAA), which documented at least 84 NMIP killings from 2014 to 2024, while the Police Regional Office-BARMM recorded 36 cases during the same period.

Legarda emphasized the urgent need for independent validation and a comprehensive investigation to hold perpetrators accountable and safeguard NMIPs from further risks and violence.

The senator also asked the Senate to assess the full range of challenges faced by NMIPs, including barriers to accessing justice and the adequacy of existing protection programs.

Beyond ensuring accountability for specific incidents of violence, there is a pressing need to reinforce the rule of law and establish clear mechanisms that safeguard the rights and security of NMIPs without exacerbating tensions or exposing communities to further vulnerabilities.