Military denies hand in slay try on activist

From the Sun Star-Davao (Oct 1): Military denies hand in slay try on activist

THE military belied the accusation of the human rights advocates that the Philippine Army's 10th Infantry Division and Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) commanders are behind the murder attempt on a Davao del Norte activist.

Dexter Ian Librando, 32, among the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) peasant organizers in Davao del Norte, is now in critical condition after he was shot by two unidentified riding-in-tandem men at 4:35 p.m. along 3rd Avenue in Tagum City.

Reports said the victim had just attended the Inter-Provincial Forum of the People's Initiative to Abolish Pork Barrel System (PIAP) when he was gunshot. Librando sustained to two gunshot wounds in his upper pelvic and nape.

According to the witnesses, some suspicious men were seen in the forum following Librando until he left the area. The victim was onboard a motorcycle driven by his colleague heading toward Tagum City when unidentified men shot him.

The human rights advocates believe that the assassination attempt against Librando is the handiwork of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), as the victim had been instrument in the exposition of the military's role in the arming of paramilitary indigenous people so-called Alamara in the province.

Karapatan secretary-general Hanimay Suazo said they believe that it was Major General Aurelio Baladad, Eastmincom commander, and Major General Eduardo Año, commander of the 10th Infantry Division who ordered the assassination given their notorious record in suppressing and repressing the activists' rights.

"The claim of Año that the military is adhering to human rights is a mere stale rhetoric given the rising of cases of human rights violations in the region after he was installed as the 10th ID commander together with Baladad, who are famous for their notoriety against activists Palparan did," Suazo said.

Bayan secretary-general, on the other hand, said the group condemns in the strongest possible term the fascist movement against the activist. She added that the victim has been active in the campaign against militarization of peasant and lumad communities in Davao del Norte.

10th Infantry Division spokesperson Captain Ernest Carolina, meanwhile, said there is no truth about the accusation of the human rights advocates. He added that the division commander has no idea about the incident.

"Yan naman palagi ang paniniwalan nila na hindi na naming matatanggal. But one thing is for sure, we really have nothing against the person (Librando). In fact, the 10 ID condemns such act, at kung sino man ang nasa likod niyan, sana ay mahuli at makasuhan na," Carolina said.

Año already ordered a unit to coordinate with the Davao del Norte Provincial Police Office in conducting investigation on the incident for the possible identification and arrest of the suspects. He also asked the protesters to leave the investigation to the police.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2014/10/01/military-denies-hand-slay-try-activist-368566