Eastmincom calls for speedy probe on Haran attack

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 4): Eastmincom calls for speedy probe on Haran attack

The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday called for the speedy investigation to the burning of dormitories inside the Haran Compound of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) here.

In a statement on Thursday to the media, Major Ezra Balagtey, officer-in-charge of the public information office of Eastmincom, said speedy resolution to investigations on Haran attack will allow the identification and bring into justice the perpetrators.

“The Eastern Mindanao Command condemns in the strongest terms the burning of the dormitories at the Haran center and those responsible for the incident,” Balagtey said in the statement.

He added that Eastmincom also joins the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in their call for a speedy investigation of the Haran fire incident so that the perpetrators can be punished and the issue put to rest.

The command also called for an impartial probe into the incident.

“Eastmincom hopes that the investigation will not only be speedy but open and impartial as well,” as it reiterated it will fully “cooperate in the investigation and in efforts to provide assistance to the fire victims.”

Unidentified men in motorcycle burned a building and attempted to set fire the cottages that temporarily housed Lumad families inside the compound last Feb. 24.

The incident that was condemned by various sectors had injured five persons, including a two-year old child.

There are more or less 80 Lumad families from Kitaotao, Bukidnon and from the towns of Kapalong and Talaingod in Davao del Norte that continue to seek refuge inside the compound.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=863380