Relatives of 25-year-old Lumad-Manobo Davie Ugking demand justice and accountability after special forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) killed him on June 6 at Kilometer 9, Barangay Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur. The victim was on his way home from work when the military accosted and eventually killed him.

The family said Ugking came from Sityo Neptune after working and gathering falcatta. He was walking home around 4:00 a.m. on June 6 at Kilometer 9, where special forces troops were stationed.

That morning, residents heard gunshots. When they investigated, they saw Ugking’s shirtless body propped on a boulder near the military camp gate. The soldiers themselves reported the victim’s death.

Upon examining the body, the family found signs of torture. The body had wounds all over, the skin on the back peeled off likely from scalding, a gunshot wound on the foot and left thigh, a wound on the head, and strangle marks on the neck.

Residents clearly believe a special forces soldier committed the crime. However, the soldiers forced a CAFGU member to confess involvement in the crime. The soldiers then surrendered the CAFGU member they implicated in the killing.