SurSur PNP files raps vs. 3 suspects on slay of IP school director, 2 lumads

From the Philippine Information Agency (Sep 8): SurSur PNP files raps vs. 3 suspects on slay of IP school director, 2 lumads

Surigao del Sur PNP Director P/SSupt. Narciso Verdadero said charges of multiple murder, arson, grave coercions, robbery, and grave threats had been filed with the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office here on Monday in Lianga against three suspects who were allegedly behind the killings of Emerito Samarca, executive director, Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural Development (ALCADEV);  Dionel Campos, chair, Malahutayong Pakigbisug  alang sa Sumusunod (Mapasu); and Aurello Sinzo, a civilian.

Named in the charge sheets were siblings Bobby and Loloy Tejero, Garito Layno, and 20 John Does.

Allegedly, during the early morning of September 1, Samarca’s throat was cut aside from being stabbed to death while hogtied inside the ALCADEV school; Campos and Sinzo, on the other hand, were gunned down in front of civilians who were gathered by armed suspects believed to be members of “Bagani Forces,” at a basketball court in Kilometer 16, Sitio Han-ayan, Barangay Diatagon, Lianga, 90 kilometers south, this city.

Due to the scary incident, over a thousand of “lumads” had to flee their homes immediately afterwards and took refuge at Surigao del Sur Sports Center here travelling en masse by public transport and other kinds of vehicles.

However, since Day One, the number of refugees has continued to rise, according to Abel De Guzman, PDRRMO chief.

May Salinas, provincial social welfare and development officer, placed the number of families at 589 as of last count, adding that the number of individuals have yet to be updated.  It was posted at 2,883 as of last count, she pointed out.

Governor Johnny Pimentel indicated the provincial government can only give so much but this cannot last for a long time.

The national government, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the DSWD, and Sec. Ging Deles of OPAPP have already been tapped for support.

Meanwhile, the 402nd Infantry Brigade under Col. Isidro Purisima, including its two battalions—the 36th and 75th Infantries, has continued to deny involvement in whatever manner about what happened since the incident took place.

Col. Purisima even went to the extent of condemning the acts of the perpetrators.

In an earlier statement Purisima said, “the army... will not condone this act and they have negated all our peace initiatives here in the area, led of course by the governor, and they have destroyed actually what we have started for the past months to have a peaceful resolution of our context here in the province.”

The 402nd Infantry Brigade headquarters has just been established in Surigao del Sur since April, this year.

Both Lt. Col. Randolph Rojas and Lt. Col. Haron Akaz, battalion commanders of 36th IB and 75th IB, respectively, have likewise denied allegations.

However, Lt. Col. Akaz admitted his men, together with Corporal Bebot Bigante Brital, who belongs to the 29IB,  is under their “opcon,” (short for operational control in military parlance), was nearby in the area of the crime scene (about 400 to 500 meters)  during the incident but could not just react after the burst of gunfire was heard, explaining immediately going to the area might worsen the situation as this might result to more killings since the armed men could easily take the civilians as hostage or human shield.

He added that the army corporal, a day or two before the incident even introduced himself to a certain Gloria Campos, one of the Lumads distinguished leaders, to request a “pulong-pulong” (dialogue), but was asked to put off the plan due to the death of an elder in the clan.

It can be recalled that Governor Pimentel has been open in implicating the “Bagani Forces,” an alleged army creation also known among locals as “Magahat-Bagani Forces” used in combating insurgency, as having a direct hand in the murderous attack.

On the contrary, Col. Purisima maintained that the military, especially his battalion, has nothing to do with its creation or what not, adding that cases have already been filed by the PNP; and they support the police with this action taken.

As of press time, both army and police forces have remained to be in the area to hunt down rogue armed men apart from trying to restore back peace in  the said community, it was learned.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1741441693280/sursur-pnp-files-raps-vs-3-suspects-on-slay-of-ip-school-director-2-lumads