Select Page

The Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to charge Regional Director Jose Jake Dumagan, Jr. of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Region XIII (Butuan City) for Grave Threats and Light Threats under Articles 282 and 283, respectively, of the Revised Penal Code (RPC).

According to complainant Datu Reynante Buklas, tribal chieftain of the Mamanwa tribe in Taganito, Claver, Surigao Del Norte, he was invited by Dumagan to a meeting on 22 March 2017.

During the meeting, Dumagan questioned complainant’s act of discontinuing the services of a certain Atty. Alfonso Casurra, as the tribe’s counsel, without consulting respondent. Complainant also recalled that respondent had a gun tucked on his waist and threateningly stated in the vernacular: “Do you see that rifle, it has a very big scope. I will use that rifle to have you shot in the legs so you will be limped but I will not kill you. You better think of your decision.”

In addition, complainant narrated that Dumagan threatened to have him replaced as tribal chieftain of the indigenous community in Brgy. Taganito.

Under Article 282 of the RPC, Grave Threats is committed by any person who shall threaten another with the infliction upon the person, honor, or property of the latter, of any wrong amounting to a crime.  A threat to commit a wrong not constituting a crime, meanwhile, is punished as Light Threats under Article 283 of the RPC.

In the related administrative case, Dumagan was found guilty of Simple Misconduct and Conduct Unbecoming of a Public Official, and was ordered suspended for six months. ###