WIFE’S CRY. A screen grab from the video interview of Elizabeth dela Torre, live-in partner of Pablo Omblero, a CAFGU member in Valencia City, Bukidnon. The couple were forcibly taken by alleged members of New People’s Army as she saw the rebels execute Omblero on the night of October 27. (Video courtesy of Army’s 403rd IB)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The wife of a Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) member recounted the last words of her husband before he was executed by alleged members of the New People's Army (NPA) last October 27.
"He was asked (by the NPA) how long was he serving as a CAFGU, and he said he was a CAFGU for eight years. After he said those, I heard gunshots," Elizabeth dela Torre said of her husband in Visayan dialect as she began crying in a two-part video clip from the Army on Oct. 31.
In the video clip, dela Torre said she and her husband, Pablo Omblero were taken from their residence in Barangay Batangan, Valencia City, Bukidnon by seven gunmen to an undisclosed location.
Dela Torre recalled that she feared being killed next after her husband.
"I thought it was my turn, but they went close to him (Omblero) and shot him in the chest the second time," she said. The first shot was aimed at Omblero's head.
She added that throughout the eight years as a CAFGU, she doesn’t know Omblero had personal conflicts with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) - NPA, that is why she was shocked that the rebels abducted them and executed Omblero in front of her.
In the video, an interviewer asked her what she was going to do next, of which dela Torre replied that she will not cease to call for justice for Omblero.
"To those who killed my husband, you should be afraid now because I will fight back. I will find justice for my husband. Justice is all I wanted. I will have my vengeance, you better watch out because many will help me," she said.
In an earlier statement, Brig. Gen. Edgardo de Leon, the 403rd Infantry Battalion commander, said Omblero was considered a captive when he was forcibly taken by the NPA from his home.
He said under the International Humanitarian Law, a captive is not a combatant so he has the right to life and must be treated humanely.
“The NPA should have respected his rights enshrined by the IHL as he can no longer be considered combatant because he was already captured, disarmed, and therefore has no capacity to fight the armed NPA,” de Leon said.
He said they will be recommending to the city government of Valencia to create a fact-finding committee on IHL to investigate the shooting.
“We also ask the Commission on Human Rights and IHL watchdog Karapatan to join the investigation of this NPA-perpetrated IHL violation,” he added.
The CPP-NPA s listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1084787
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