ZAMBOANGA CITY — A 67-year-old Indigenous People leader who was reported missing for about six days was found lifeless by patrolling soldiers in the hinterland of Datu Hoffer in Maguindanao del Sur province.

Lt. Col. Loqui Marco, 90th Infantry Battalion Commander 90th Infantry Battalion revealed yesterday that soldiers on foot patrol inside the forested areas of Barangay Limpongo in Datu Hoffer found the lifeless body of Martinez Sugaguil on Friday.

Marco said Sugaguil was missing for six days before he was found dead in the remote area of the village by the patrolling soldiers.

Sugaguil might have been tortured before he was killed by a Local Terrorist Group operating in Datu Hofer, the military theorized.

According to Col. Marco, while his family was looking for the victim, they saw more than 10 armed men wearing black clothes and long hair in the village.

Sugaguil was working with a Water System Cooperative, which supplies potable water to Shariff Aguak, and resident of Barangay Limpongo in Datu Hoffer.

As a result of the incident, Col. Edgar L. Catu, commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade immediately directed its soldiers to hunt down the suspects and intensify operations in Maguindanao del Sur and nearby towns against local terrorist groups

Joint Task Force-Central Commander Brig. Gen. Donald M. Gumiran condemns the merciless killing of Sugaguil, an Indigenous People leader in Barangay Limpongo in Datu Hoffer.

Gumiran said “The indiscriminate killing of our indigenous people by terrorist groups is inhumane and unjust. This incident is a clear manifestation of the terrorist activities of the group, which endangers the lives of civilians who strive to live a peaceful and normal life.”