8 soldiers face raps for botanist’s killing

From the Manila Standard Today (Dec 14): 8 soldiers face raps for botanist’s killing

The Commission on Human Rights on Thursday recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges against eight soldiers for their alleged involvement in the killing of renowned botanist Leonard Co and his two assistants Julio Borromeo and Sofronio Cortez on Nov. 15, 2010. At a news conference, Chairwoman Loretta Ann Rosales said the commission determined that members of Charlie Company of the 19th Infantry Battalion committed human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law. “There was a failure to distinguish civilians from alleged combatants. There was a failure to provide prompt medical attention to the wounded victim Julio Borromeo who died as a result,” the commission’s resolution read.

“It also recommended that the battalion commander of the 19th IB be criminally charged for obstruction of justice for failing to submit all the firearms used during their 15 November 2010 military operation. It further recommended that perjury charges be filed against two of the soldiers for falsely testifying before the Commission,” the resolution added. She said there were lapses in securing the safety of Co and his assistants and in coordinating with the 19th IB, informing superiors about a military operation, and securing the crime scene as well as in its investigation.
Co and two of his assistants were killed in Sitio Mahiao, Barangay Lim-Ao, Kananga, Leyte on Nov. 15, 2010. The troops of Charlie Company of the 19th Infantry Battalion, 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, Armed Forces of the Philippines who were involved in the incident claimed that the troops had an encounter with a group of New People’s Army terrorists and that in the course thereof, the three civilians were killed.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2012/12/14/8-soldiers-face-raps-for-botanists-killing/