AFP-PNP joint task force to pursue suspects in Lumad killings

From GMA News (Sep 17): AFP-PNP joint task force to pursue suspects in Lumad killings

A joint task force composed of members of the military and the Philippine National Police (PNP) has been created by the provincial government of Surigao Del Sur to maintain peace and order in the province and to pursue suspects in the killing of three Lumad leaders in Lianga town.

“The reason why we created this JTF [Joint Task Force] is to immediately arrest Bobby Tejero and his group who are responsible for the killing last September 1, 2015 and also to disarm other threat groups in the province,” Surigao Del Sur governor Johnny Pimentel said in a press statement.

On September 1, Emerito Samarca, Dionel Campos and Datu Juvillo Sinzo were killed in Barangay Diatagon in Lianga.

A cooperative store owned by Malahutayong Pakigbisog alang sa Sumusunod, of which Campos was chairman, was also burned down.

Charges of multiple murder, arson, robbery, grave threats and grave coercion were filed against suspects Loloy Tejero, Bobby Tejero, and Gareto Layno before the Provincial Prosecutors Office in Lianga.

The joint task force is composed of personnel from the Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office and the Philippine Army's 402nd Infantry Brigade.

“This is to immediately respond to the situation concerning the recent killing incident at Brgy Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur. Together with the Philippine Army we will bring these suspects to the folds of law for the speedy resolution of the situation in the area,” Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Vert Chavez said.

For the military's part, Major General Oscar Lactao, commander of the Philippine Army's 4th Infantry Division said the soldiers in the area will be purely on a “peacekeeping mission.”

“We will provide necessary resources to support the PNP in this law enforcement operation, especially on the immediate arrest of the suspects to shed light on the crimes they’ve committed,” Lactao said.

“Our presence in the area is for a peacekeeping mission to prevent further bloodshed on this tribal conflict situation,” he added.

The human rights group Karapatan earlier tagged the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as being behind the incident, saying that the suspects belong to Magahat Bagani force, a para-military group allegedly organized by the AFP.

Human rights advocates and progressive organizations have accused the AFP of training and arming the Bagani/Magahat — an accusation repeatedly denied by military officials.

The AFP has denied that it trained and armed the Magahat Bagani. It also said that the killing of the three men was the result of tribal conflict in the area.

On Tuesday, the AFP presented to the media three Lumad leaders who said the military were not involved in the incident.

The Lumad leaders said it was the New People's Army (NPA) who are behind the recent killings and harassment of the Lumad communities in Mindanao.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/537327/news/nation/afp-pnp-joint-task-force-to-pursue-suspects-in-lumad-killings