Army detachment told to leave barangay over deaths of 3 Lumads
THE CITY council yesterday passed a resolution requesting the 69th Infantry Battalion to pull out the detachment in Paradise Embac, Paquibato District following the deaths of three Lumads during a reported clash last month.
The resolution, passed yesterday at the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, also urged the Commission on Human Rights to investigate the incident.
Singled out by the resolution was 1Lt. Christopher Santos and his unit, whom Councilor Karlo Bello said may have “caused terror” on the residents of Paradise Embac.
Bello chairs the city council committee on human rights.
Councilors Danilo Dayanghirang and Elias Lopez initially abstained from supporting the resolution, citing due process and the body’s lack of authority to recommend any military action or pullout.
Last month, Bello requested the CHR to study the possibility of filing murder charge against military officials liable for killing three people in the area.
An earlier copy of the committee report quotes Bello as saying the CHR should look into the allegations against Lt. Christopher Santos and the soldiers under his command over the death of Datu Ruben Enlog, tribal leader and chair of Nagkapul; Ramil Enlog and Randy Carnasa.
The report read, “The council reiterates the disbelief that the military should respect and recognize the right of the individuals to exercise their freedom of expression, a basic and fundamental pillar of democracy, even if what is expressed is anti-government or undemocratic as long as they do not take up arms or pose danger to others, without branding them as ‘communist’ and unduly isolating them from the community.”
The CHR, for its part, said it had already conducted an investigation immediately after the incident.
Progressive group Karapatan earlier accused the military of lying when it said the casualties were members of the New People’s Army who reportedly shot at a soldier of the 69th Infantry Battalion.
But 69th IB commander, Lt. Col. Rodney Intal, said it was a legitimate operation as they acted on a report from local residents who complained of extortion from armed groups in the area.
Bello, on the other hand, said the committee is “not fully convinced that a legitimate encounter actually took place and the deceased were members of NPA.”
The AFP, in supporting documents submitted to the city council last week, said they were serving a warrant of arrest for fallen rebel leader Leoncio Pitao alias Parago, who was sighted in the area during the incident.
Leftists/communist sympathizers on the Davao City council, especially Councilor Karlo Bello, have long sought the removal of military forces from the Talaingod area of Paquibato district.
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