The Commission on Human Rights cleared members of the 11 th
Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army from any involvement in the murder of
a couple in Barangay Tacpao, Guihulngan
City
The CHR's findings, through its provincial chief Jesus
Cañete, disclosed that documents found at the crime scene showed that Rosalie
and Endric Calago were killed and burned by members of the Leonardo Panaligan
Command (LPC) of the New People's Army.
Cañete appeared before the Provincial Peace and Order
Council meeting yesterday in Dumaguete
City
Part of the findings showed leaflets found at the crime
scene, all written in Ilonggo, which hinted at the couple being “punished” for
acts contrary to the interest of the NPA.
Cañete said giving weight to the assertion of the family
that the Philippine Army is responsible for the crime, in spite of the claim of
the LPC, would be ridiculous.
Another evidence recovered by police investigators was a
leaflet found at Magsaysay Street Guihulngan City
Sadagnot was killed while the wife survived the attack,
Cañete said.
The leaflet further read in Ilonggo that Sadagnot and Calago
and other officials are actively supporting the Oplan Bayanihan of the
government.
Cañete said the statements are manifestations of
condemnations to politicians, who abused and exploited the farmers of Tacpao
and failed to address their welfare, as well as dislike to the concept of peace
and development brought about by the military. Rosalie Calago was a barangay
health worker, and Endric, a barangay kagawad.
He said the manner by which the crime was committed portrays
a “personalized” hatred, condemnation, and intense indignation which could not
possibly come from a formal governmental organization; an overkill,
cruelly-detailed, barbaric and time-consuming, which ran counter to a quick,
operationally-viable and personnel-secured operation.
He said the perpetrators are not concerned that their
identities will be known and that the leaflets could not have been strewn
around by them while the house of the Colagos was still burning as these could
have been burnt also.
The perpetrators waited until the fire died down and placed
the leaflets around the burnt area. This means the culprits stayed in the area
for not less than 30 minutes, said Cañete in his presentation to the PPOC.
The testimony of Marcela Madroniro, sister of Endric, that
she did not see anyone except having heard voices at the time the crime was
committed, is doubtful.
To recall, more than 60 empty shells, or two full loads of
the banana-type magazines of an M16 Armalite rifle, were recovered by police at
the crime scene. In an area noted for its insurgency problem, any combatant
would be stupid to waste ammunition on a target that only needs two rounds. It
is probable that there were more or less 10 perpetrators instead of just two or
a few more, Cañete added.
A burning house made of cogon could light up the entire
place, so it was impossible for Marcela not to see anyone. She could have seen
them and she knows them but is fearful to tell the truth, he added.
Cañete added there is a hint of a pattern when the documents
found relate to a previous crime describing the same motive, the same
underlying reasons, and almost the same manner of commission, i.e. the murder
of another barangay official of the same locality.
Canete's report will now form part of the one being
submitted to the regional office, to be furnished the central office of the
CHR, of which the United Nations Special Committee may ask copies of, to erase
impressions made by cause-oriented groups that the brutal act was perpetrated
by the Army.
But he said he cannot force cause-oriented groups to refrain
from making statements contrary to the findings, that he said is based on
evidence. He reiterated that unless the Leonardo Panaligan Command issues a
disclaimer that will necessitate another investigation, the findings will stay.
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2015/August/12/negor1.htm
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