402nd Brigade chief refutes allegations of activist group in SurSur .

From the Philippine Information Agency (Mar 17): 402nd Brigade chief refutes allegations of activist group in SurSur .

SURIGAO DEL SUR - Commander of the 402nd Infantry (STINGERS) Brigade, Philippine Army Col. Isidro Purisima refutes the allegations of an activist group tagging a legitimate encounter as a strafing incident and wounding a farmer allegedly perpetrated by the 2nd Special Forces (SF) Battalion.

It can be recalled that on March 11, the 2nd SF Battalion encountered a group of lawless bandits belonging to the Guerilla Front 21 which resulted to the capture of one wounded outlaw.

The said outlaw was assisted and immediately rushed to a hospital in Tandag City by the elements of the 2nd SF Battalion.

In the hospital, the said wounded outlaw confessed to the authorities and media practitioners of his participation with the Sandatahang Platun Pampropaganda 21B (SPP 21B), the lawless bandit group, which was encountered by the said army unit.

Furthermore, he was also identified by his former comrades in arms who have already surrendered to be a member of the group.

The 2nd SF Battalion immediately reported the incident to the Philippine National Police and filed appropriate charges to the wounded outlaw.

Accordingly, Col. Purisima immediately directed the 2nd SF Battalion to conduct an investigation with regard to the incident.

The official also assured the people of Surigao del Sur that their soldiers adhere to the respect of human rights and will not tolerate any abuse of the troops.

“We are committed to respecting human rights as stipulated in the Internal Peace and Security Plan Bayanihan and we will not tolerate any abuse of the troops,” Col. Purisima said.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1741458200817/402nd-brigade-chief-refutes-allegations-of-activist-group-in-sursur