Two farmers have lost their lives following a traditional underwater ritual intended to resolve a land ownership dispute in Barangay Datal Anggas, Alabel, Sarangani, Philippines.
The deceased individuals, identified as 69-year-old Tony and 49-year-old Gaspar, agreed to undertake the traditional test, locally known as “Sulif,” after conventional mediation failed to settle their conflict over a boundary line.
Incident during traditional endurance test
According to reports, the two men entered the Glamang River on Friday, October 16, 2026, and submerged themselves face-down in the water in the presence of local community members.
After both men remained underwater for approximately 12 minutes without resurfacing, concerned onlookers intervened and pulled them from the river.
They were immediately transported to the Sarangani Provincial Hospital for emergency medical care.
Tony was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians, while Gaspar passed away several hours later while undergoing medical treatment.
Traditional practice under investigation
The practice of “Sulif” is a traditional endurance ritual observed in select Indigenous communities across Southern Mindanao, where disputing parties compete in physical challenges to determine the resolution of contested claims.
Video footage capturing the event has since circulated across social media platforms, prompting local authorities to initiate a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatalities.
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