AFP, PNP either clueless on Bagani armed group, or turning blind eye, solons say

From MindaNews (Nov 10): AFP, PNP either clueless on Bagani armed group, or turning blind eye, solons say

The military and the police are either clueless about the existence of the Bagani armed group in Arakan, North Cotabato, or just turning a blind eye on the group’s existence, according to members of the House Committee on Human Rights who conducted on-site hearings here. Both the military and the police admitted Friday that they do not have any idea whether or not the Bagani force, which is allegedly responsible for the killing of an Italian priest last year in Arakan Valley is an armed group, but said the group exists. Fr. Fausto “Pops” Tentorio, a member of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), was shot in the compound of the Mother of Perpetual Help parish church in Arakan on Oct. 17, 2011. At the two-day congressional hearing on human rights violations held here, some witnesses said Thursday the Bagani force was led by Jan Corbala, also known as Kumander Iring. On the second day of the hearing, on Friday, military officials claimed that Corbala is a member of the Bagani, but he is not in any way officially connected with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The military also told the House Committee on Human Rights that they do not have any idea whether or not the Bagani group is armed. Brig. Gen. Cesar Dionisio Sedillo, assistant commander of the 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division, said “bagani” is the vernacular term of the indigenous people (IP) or the Lumads for “warrior.”....

http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2012/11/10/afp-pnp-either-clueless-on-bagani-armed-group-or-turning-blind-eye-say-solons/