2 Farmers Lost Their Lives Underwater Ritual to Settle Land Dispute
Two farmers died after taking part in a traditional ritual to settle a land dispute in Alabel, Sarangani province.
Recently, Reyden Dabon, a Facebook user, shared a video showing the two men participating in the ritual. The post quickly went viral on social media and garnered various reactions from netizens.
According to police, the two Indigenous men agreed to undergo a traditional practice known as sulif, or trial by ordeal, to resolve their disagreement over a piece of land. They reportedly turned to the ritual after their dispute remained unresolved during efforts to settle the matter at the barangay level.
As part of the practice, the two men had to remain underwater while holding their breath. The ritual required them to endure the challenge, with the outcome intended to settle their disagreement.
However, what was supposed to resolve their conflict ended in tragedy. Both men reportedly remained submerged in the river for several minutes, with reports giving different estimates of the time they spent underwater.
They were eventually taken to a hospital for medical attention. One of the farmers was declared dead on arrival, while the other later died despite efforts to save him.
The incident has raised concerns about the dangers of using physically risky practices to settle personal disputes, particularly when the challenge involves remaining underwater without breathing.
Land disputes can become personal, particularly when they involve property that families depend on for their livelihood. However, resolving such conflicts through dangerous challenges can lead to irreversible consequences.
The deaths of the two farmers reminded the public that disagreements should be handled through peaceful discussions and proper legal channels rather than life-threatening rituals.
Further details about the land dispute and the specific circumstances surrounding the incident were not provided in the initial report.
In another post, a man loses dentures after fight w/ cousin over land dispute in Aklan
The social media users expressed their reactions to the post:
