From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Nov 11): Army denies backing militia in Tentorio slay
A ranking military commander denied knowledge of the existence of a militia that
is now being held responsible for the murder of Italian missionary Fr. Fausto
Tentorio in Arakan, North Cotabato. A member of the militia, known as Bagani Forces, surfaced recently to turn
state witness. Brig. Gen. Cesar Sedillo, head of the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade, the
military unit that has jurisdiction over Arakan, made the denial as he testified
on the second day of the two-day hearing conducted by the House committee on
justice on extrajudicial killings in Mindanao on Friday. Asked by Alliance of Concerned Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio about Bagani
Forces in Arakan, which the military is allegedly supporting, Sedillo appeared
to be at a loss for answers. Then he said he was uncertain if the group exists. When told by an aide that Bagani means “warrior,” Sedillo said he has not
encountered the militia. Tinio butted in and said he wondered why Sedillo did not hear about Bagani
when the existence of this group is well-known among indigenous peoples. The militia member who turned state witness said Bagani is being supported by
the military. The Bagani member, whose identity is being withheld for his protection, said
Bagani Forces is headed by John Corbala, alias Commander Iring, a militiaman.
He said Corbala, “with the blessing of the military,” ordered the killing of
Tentorio because of his being “a supporter of the New People’s Army.” .... When confronted with this information, Sedillo said he knew only of the
Pulang Bagani Command operating in Davao, led by communist rebel leader Leoncio
Pitao. “Bagani is common knowledge among the communities. But they are saying
different things,” said Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, who heads the committee
on justice, in comments made after the hearing. Nograles said the committee has asked the military, police and Commission on
Human Rights to dig deeper into the existence of Bagani Forces.
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/55836/army-denies-backing-militia-in-tentorio-slay
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) is CPP front active in the education sector. The functions as both a sectoral and political organization. Front groups are pushing the propaganda theme that the Philippine military was behind the killing of Fr. Tentorio.
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