Monday, March 6, 2017

Army challenges Karapatan: File cases if you have proof

From the Mindanao Times (Mar 6): Army challenges Karapatan: File cases if you have proof  

THE 10TH Infantry Division challenged progressive group Karapatan to go beyond mere propaganda and file appropriate charges against the soldiers it believed to have committed crimes against civilians.
 
Capt. Rhyan Batchar, the spokesperson of 10th ID, said that the PNP in Alabel, Sarangani already filed criminal charges against eight captured communist guerillas, and trust the process of the court to determine guilt or innocence.

The eight rebels are now under the custody of the Alabel police.
 
“Press statements are not the right venue to correct injustices except for propaganda purposes only to discredit the success of AFP units, thus validating the tactical victories of government forces,” he said.

It can be recalled that the 73rd Infantry Battalion engaged in a series of firefights the NPA Guerrilla Front 71 in Little Baguio, Malita, Davao Occidental and Barangay Datal Anggas, Alabel, Sarangani last February 8 and 11, respectively.
 
One soldier, identified as Pfc. Ricky Subere, was wounded while eight NPA rebels were captured, seven of them still clutching their high-powered firearms, in the Sarangani encounter.

Subsequent to the clashes, 15 NPA regulars and nine NPA Milisya ng Bayan (MB) members surrendered to the local government and the 73rd IB. They also brought with them five high-powered firearms.
 
Batchar said they expected Karapatan to cry foul after the NPA sustained some casualties in the recent clashes with government troops.
 
Meanwhile, Karapatan and the SOS Network blamed the military for the death of couple Leonila and Ramon Pesadilla, members of Compostela Farmers Association, on Thursday last week. They left behind their 5-year-old grandson.

The couple also reportedly donated their land where the Lumad school Salugpongan Community Learning Center was erected.

Rius Valle, SOS Network spokesperson, claimed that in the span of one month three key contributors on the establishment of Lumad schools were killed.

Emelito Rotimas, a purok chairman, was shot by two men riding in tandem last Feb 6, 2017 in front of five Lumad students just outside their campus.

“I could only imagine the trauma it left to the child” Valle said, referring to the grandson of the slain couple.
 

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