On February 10, 2015 at around 9 am, Jose Alimboyong and his son Aden set off from their home in Sitio Lamesa, Brgy. Carromata in the municipality of San Miguel in Surigao del Sur.

As they were climbing a hill, they were fired at by soldiers of the 36th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army. Aden escaped by jumping at a stream while Jose was later found at a shallow grave with a wooden cross and two shell-casings of an M203 grenade on top of it. There were gunshot wounds to his head and back.

Jose Alimboyong was a member of TIPJUNGAN, a local organization of indigenous people against the entry of large-scale destructive mining in the area.

Several datus and leaders from their community who stood firm in defying the plans of the military troops and mining companies were also killed. Bai Josephine Pagalan of Kasalo Caraga said the killing was “a form of injustice” and accused the military of backing the mining activities in the region.

“Caraga Region is under attack because it is the mining capital in the country and we are not going to let other mining companies steal our lands and its wealth,” Pagalan said.