A missionary group is appealing for help for members of a tribal community in Mindanao who fled their homes after the murder of their leader by a paramilitary group.

The Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) said the Higaonon tribe members, from the town of Esperanza in Agusan del Sur province, fled fearing for their own safety.

The tribal people said a paramilitary group called “Salawakan,” attacked their community on June 30 and killed their leader Arpe Belayong, also known as Datu Lapugotan, and his son-in-law, Sulte San-ogan.

Belayong, his cousin Maampagi Belayong – who was murdered last year – and Sulte San-ogan are believed to have been killed because of their and their tribe’s opposition to mining activities.

In an open letter, the missionary group’s Rural Poor Women’s Apostolate said the Higaonon community urgently needs food, medicine and building materials to construct new homes.

The children also need toys and educational material since they stopped going to school, the RMP said.

“Messages of solidarity which will be read during pastoral visits are also needed,” the open letter said.

The RMP are due to visit the new community, whose whereabouts have not been disclosed, in the next few days. “They have chosen to relocate. They are hoping to build a new community elsewhere not because of cowardice but because they have strong principles,” the RMP said in the letter.

“We know it is painful for them to leave land the families have been living on for generations. The women, who were instrumental in choosing to move instead of pursuing confrontation, are resolute that this is the best way to keep the peace,” said a local Higaonon leader, Bae Adelfa Belayong.

“It does not mean they are giving up the fight. They, together with the rest of our communities, will continue to expose the stench and brutality of companies that continue to think our fellow indigenous peoples are subject to their whims,” she added.

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