ILLEGAL // International Fault-Finding Mission

From DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (Nov 12): ILLEGAL // International Fault-Finding Mission

CAMP EDILBERTO T EVANGELISTA, Patag, Cagayan de Oro City (DWDD) – The 4th Infantry Division again challenge the mandate of this alleged International Fact Finding Mission as well as the validity and legality of its supposed findings.

First, we reiterate that they did not prove or presented any legal basis of their authority. As an “International” body to conduct “fact-finding”, it should have been duly endorsed by an international organization recognized by the international community like the United Nations.

Second, they should follow rules of jurisprudence. But in this case, we find the accusers acting as investigators and eventually presiding as judge, similar to an NPA Kangaroo Court.

What they did is simply” fault-finding” and not “fact-finding”. They should try to dig deeper on the issues related to the killing so that we can arrive at an effective solution.

They should have realized that Marcos Bocales, Marcial Belandres and Hasmin Acebedo are ex-NPAs while Datu Calpit Egua is a former NPA supporter. The IFFM should have established why did these former NPAs bolted out of the armed movement and wage war against their former comrades.

Also, if they are true on bringing justice and stop the Lumad killings, they should have also investigated the killing of 357 Lumads perpetrated by the NPA since 1998.

Recently, the NPA has brutally murdered Mayor Dario Otaza of Loreto, Agusan del Sur, last October 20, 2015, Datu Ricardo “Mandahinog” Sulhayan, of Nasipit, Agusan del Norte last October 9, 2015 and Datu Rene “Manhadukan” Bucalas of Loreto Paz, Agusan del Sur last October 3, 2015.

We are not diverting the issue. We just want that allegations must be placed on the proper perspective of jurisprudence and not by trial by publicity, more so a farce “fact-finding” mission. Nevertheless, we are firm that the NPA and their allied legal organizations are the primary cause of conflict among the Lumads and led to their killing. The NPA want complete domination over the IP communities, and their ancestral domain being a source of their manpower and resources for their armed violence. Let us free all Lumads from being victims.

We support the call to end hostilities against our brother Lumads. We should stop fault-finding. Rather, we to sit down, talk, find and do the solutions in order to solve this complex problem involving our brother Lumads. 4CMO Bn / MCAG

http://dwdd.com.ph/2015/illegal-international-fault-finding-mission/