Compostela tribal chief shot dead

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A tribal leader who had been critical of illegal logging was gunned down in Monkayo, Compostela Valley Monday night.

Senior Superintendent Aaron Aquino, Compostela Valley police director, said Carlito Chavez, known as Datu Namagyo as chieftain of the Dibabawon tribe, was eating in a bakeshop along Magsaysay Street in Monkayo town when two men fired at him.

Aquino said Chavez had been known to be active in the campaign against illegal logging in Monkayo, particularly in areas covered by the Dibabawon tribe’s certificate of ancestral domain title.

Reports said Chavez is the second tribal leader slain in Monkayo since January this year.