THE MILITARY will file a countercharge against a leader of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas in relation to the incident in Purok 7, Barangay Paradise Embac, Paquibato District on Sunday where three people ended up dead in what soldiers claimed was a legitimate encounter.
Speaking yesterday during the AFP-PNP press conference, Maj. Gen. Eduardo, commander of 10th Infantry Division, said that they are set to file a case of obstruction of justice and illegal possession of improvised explosive device against Aida Seisa, KMP president.
He claimed that Seisa is now missing after the incident.
The military and police also stressed that what happened was a legitimate operation.
“It is a legitimate encounter. This will be proven by the report of the SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operatives).”
He said that the three killed, identified as Poligario Quimbo, Datu Ruben Cainlog and Datu Randy Carnasa, were members of New People’s Army and they tested positive for powder burns which means they “were able to fire their guns.”
“The claims that they were civilians are not true. This is part of the propaganda,” he said.
Soldiers reportedly recovered an M14 rifle, two improvise explosive devices and two grenades at the scene.
Meanwhile, Sr. Insp. Milgrace Driz, spokesperson of Davao City Police Office, said that any law enforcement agency can serve the warrant.
“Based on the report being submitted to the office, it was a legitimate operation,” she said. “They were about to serve the warrant when they encountered the rebels.”
Quimbo allegedly joined the communist rebellion over a month ago as member of the Pulang Bagani Command 1 under Leoncio Pitao. As he went underground, Quimbo was reportedly replaced as a tribal chieftain in the area.
Randy Carnasa was also reportedly a member of Milisang Bayan, the lowest NPA unit.
He said that prior the encounter, they received a tip about the presence of armed men in the area, and Leoncio Pitao aka Kumander Parago and a Nelson Anggoy were also there.
Soldiers under 69th Infantry Battalion were deployed to serve the arrest warrant against Pitao and Anggoy.
“They were fired upon upon approaching the encounter site,” he said. “Anggoy and Pitao escaped during the encounter.”
He also said that they welcome any investigation into the incident.
“We are very much happy because now we can prove how the rebels use the people in Paquibato,” he said. “We will face any investigation to prove that the three killed were members of the NPA.”
“We can then prove why are the NPAs staying at the house of Aida Seisa that night?” the army commander added.
A human rights group is set to file a complaint before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for their deaths.
Hanimay Suazo, secretary general of Karapatan, told TIMES that they will bring the case of Cainlog, Quimbo, and Carnasa before the human rights body so that the military responsible for their death would be meted punishment.
Members of the city council committee on human rights will also visit the encounter site to determine the truth in light of the accusations thrown against each other by the military and progressive groups.
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