SOUTH UPI, MAGUINDANAO DEL SUR — The lifeless body of a Teduray man was discovered at the banks of the Rifao River in Barangay Kuya, South Upi, Maguindanao del Sur, early Saturday morning, August 23, 2025.
The victim was identified as Joseph Mobato, a resident of Barangay Rempes. Authorities confirmed that Mobato sustained a gunshot wound to the chest and had his hands tied, indicating a case of summary execution.
Initial reports revealed that the body was first sighted by residents at around 6:00 a.m. He was wearing a black hooded jacket and gray side pocket pants when found.
Responders from Barangay Kuya officials, the Joint Peace and Security Team (JPST) Bravo Company, and the South Upi Municipal Police Station immediately proceeded to the scene to secure the area and launch an investigation.
Mobato’s killing adds to the growing list of violent attacks against Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (NMIPs) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). He is recorded as the 88th victim of targeted killings involving members of Indigenous communities, sparking renewed alarm over the persistent threats they face.
Authorities are now investigating the circumstances behind the incident and are urging anyone with information to coordinate with the South Upi police to help resolve the case.
Meanwhile, local Indigenous leaders and rights advocates decried the incident, calling it another chilling reminder of the continuing vulnerability of NMIPs in the region amid ongoing land and resource conflicts.