The paramilitary group Magahat, a group attached to the 36th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, publicly massacred Emerico Samarca, the executive director of the Lumad school Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV), along with tribal leader Dionel Campos and his cousin Aurelio Sinzo early morning in Lianga, Surigao del Sur. They were all known environmental defenders openly opposed to mining. While not necessarily alleged to be connected to killings, Philex, Nickel Asia, Red 5 Limited are allegedly companies that are supporting and are benefiting the most from paramilitaries in Mindanao, which have in turn allegedly killed a number of indigenous rights defenders. “The recent killings in a Lumad school in the town of Lianga, Surigao del Sur, is part and parcel of the Aquino government’s Oplan Bayanihan inextricably linked to mining and other big business interests in the region. The Andap Valley Complex, in which Lianga, is situated is known to be one of the biggest coal reserves in the country, and the killing rampage that forced more than 3,000 Lumads to evacuate to the city center seems motivated to protect these investments,” according to local civil society.