ALABEL, SARANGANI, PHILIPPINES – OCTOBER 16, 2026 Two farmers died after submerging themselves in the Glamang River during a traditional ritual and failing to resurface. The victims were Tonny Bulanon Mansag, 69, and Gaspar Tusan Palasanon, 49, who represented two families involved in a land ownership dispute. After their dispute could not be resolved at the local government level, the two men reportedly decided to undergo a traditional test known as “Sulif.”
During this ritual, participants submerge themselves underwater and compete to see who can hold their breath longer. According to the rules described, the person who surfaces first loses. If neither participant outlasts the other within the allotted time, the result may be considered a draw. The test is rooted in a traditional belief that nature, such as water, can reveal who is at fault in a dispute.
Both farmers remained underwater for approximately 12 minutes. When bystanders pulled them out, they were unconscious. Tonny Bulanon Mansag was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at Sarangani Provincial Hospital. Gaspar Tusan Palasanon died later at a hospital in General Santos City.
A relative of one of the victims also questioned the duration of the test. According to him, the usual submersion limit was supposed to be two minutes, and assistance was provided only after a period several times longer than that. Police are investigating the exact sequence of events and the circumstances surrounding both deaths.
READ MORE:
https://www.atinitonews.com/2026/10/viral-tragedy-2-farmers-die-in-underwater-ritual-to-settle-land-row-in-sarangani/
https://www.brigadanews.ph/two-farmers-die-in-sulif-ritual-over-land-dispute-in-sarangani
https://tribune.net.ph/2026/10/17/settling-land-dispute-turns-deadly
