Army to file lawsuit for Paquibato ambush

From the Sun Star-Davao (Nov 14): Army to file lawsuit for Paquibato ambush

MILITARY authorities are determined to file charges before the City Prosecutor’s Office against the suspects of the four soldiers who were killed in Barangay Mapula, Paquibato District last November 4. The victims were identified as Ahian Dolero, Marvin Lauronal, Noel Sigan and Marcelo Himaya -- members of the Army’s 69th Infantry Battalion.  The soldiers were ambushed on their way back to their detachment from the Panabo market to buy some supplies. Lieutenant Colonel Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the Army’s 69th Infantry Battalion, in an interview, said his battalion under the 10th Infantry Division is now coordinating with the Paquibato Police Station for the charges to be filed against Ryan Pitao and other members of the 1st Pulang Bagani Command of the New People’s Army (NPA). “As of now, we are still gathering information and evidences that would support the charges to be filed against Ryan and his members,” Pasaporte said, adding they are still clueless on the identities of the members although they believe Pitao led the group. Superintendent Johnson Almazan, chief of the Davao City Police Office’s Investigation and Detection Management Branch (DCPO-IDMB), in an interview, said their personnel in Paquibato Police Station are still conducting investigation on the matter. “We have a conference this (Tuesday) morning… and Chief Inspector (Romeo) Abler was asking us to give them more time for the investigation. Kasi mahirap yan eh, we are still looking and waiting for someone who is willing to attest the truth," Almazan said. On the other hand, a source from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR)-Davao, who refused to be identified for lack of authority to speak, said their office is also conducting investigation on the incident as well as the earlier accusation of the communist rebels towards the soldiers. The CHR-11 was also thankful after the NPA admits killing the soldiers, as this will aid their investigation, adding that the bureau also awaits the victim's relatives to file their complaint against the suspects.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2012/11/14/army-file-lawsuit-paquibato-ambush-253195