By BEN SERRANO and GENEVIEVE CANTOR Correspondents TANDAG City––An international fact-finding group that ilooked into the brutal killings of a tribal school director and two other lumad leaders in Surigao del Sur said it would bring the matter to the attention of the United Nations (UN). In a news conference here, the group sounded alarms bells over the continuing human rights violations against indigenes, and over the cold-shoulder treatment that the military, police, and government agencies have been giving to the case. The investigators also noted armed groups in the hinterlands of Sitio Han-ayan, Barangay Diatagon, Lianga town in Surigao del Sur, and other tribal villages. They said the armed groups have been violating the human rights of over 3,000 indigenes. The mission was organized in response to the killings of Emerito Samarca, executive director of the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (Alcadev), Dionel Campos who chaired the Manobo group Malahutayong Pakigbigsog Alang sa Sumusunod (Mapasu), and Campos’s cousin Bello Sinzo. “Since we see that no justice can be attained, and because until now, the prime suspects in the killings are scot-free and remained dangerous, we have no recourse but to bring these issues to the attention of various international human rights and law groups,” said Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate. He said one would be the  United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNHR). Some members of the fact-finding team are Dr. Julie Caguit, Rosanilla Consad, Bishops Modesto Villasanta of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), Rhee Timbang of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI),  and Sister Felicidad Solatorio of the Missionary Sisters of Mary (MSM). Other members include investigators from Australia, UK, Belgium, Germany, and The Netherlands. Maj. Gen. Oscar Lactao, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, questioned the motives of the investigating team. “We know for a fact that our government has already made its probe on the issues. The Senate Committee on Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, and Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights have already conducted an inquiry in aid of legislation,” Lactao said. He said the National Prosecutorial Service-National Bureau of Investigation’s Task Force on Extra Judicial Killings is also conducting its own investigation. “We question the intent of the International Fact Finding Mission. First, we are questioning the legality of its mandate. Does this body have the authority for this inquiry? More particularly, did the foreign representatives get the approval or clearance of the Department of Foreign Affairs? But no matter what country the representatives of this mission come from, we are one with them in calling for justice for the victims of this incident. But it must be placed in the context of respect for our country’s sovereignty and laws,” Lactao said.