Red alert for final viewing of slain rebel leader
THE DAVAO City Police Office intensified security for the Luksang Parangal for Leoncio Pitao alias Kumander Parago of the New People’s Army to be held at the Davao City Recreation Center at 6 p.m. today.
The authorities expect some NPA leaders and members, along with sympathizers to pay their last respects for the slain guerilla leader. The interment is scheduled on Friday afternoon at the Davao Memorial Park.
Speaking yesterday during the AFP-PNP press conference, Sr. Insp. Milgrace Driz, city police spokesperson, said that 20 personnel from the City Public Safety Command and different precincts will secure the area.
“We will have a maximum deployment as much as possible with the help also from the Traffic management office and Traffic group,” Driz said, adding that mobile patrol units will intensify monitoring and conduct random checkpoints as part of the security procedure.
Driz, however, assured the public that the city is safe. As for the NPA rebels who will come in for a visit, they were told to leave behind firearms and explosives and also warned against committing crimes while in the city.
“But those with warrants of arrest will surely be arrested,” she said.
Lt. Isis Gabasa, spokesperson of Task Force Davao, reiterated that communist guerillas paying their tribute won’t be touched as long as they comply with the instructions.
The Luksang Parangal was arranged by the City Mayor’s Office.
Last June 28, Pitao and the unit’s medic, later identified as Vanessa Limpag, were killed in an encounter in Barangay Panalum in Paquibato District.
Recovered from the site were three M16 rifles, three backpacks and several rounds of handrifle grenades.
The National Democratic Front-Southern Mindanao also ran a full-page advertisement with the Philippine Daily Inquirer on July 7 giving honor to the fallen rebel leader. It also claimed that Pitao wasn’t killed in a clash as claimed by the army, but was rather murdered in cold-blood.
“Ka Parago was killed while undergoing treatment for his lingering illnesses,” the statement read. “He had diabetes, hepatitis and hyperthyroidism which forced him to slow down in the midst of relentless military operations of the AFP. The medic, Ka Kyle (Vanessa Limpag) who was treating and nursing him was also razed to the ground. Well-oriented of her right under Protocol II of the Geneva Conventions, she had already raised her arms and was shouting that she was a medic, but was gunned down just the same by the raiding team.”
The letter, signed by Siegfried Red representing the Regional Party Committee, accused the army of “brazenly” disregarding the Rules of Engagement of the Geneva Convention and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and the International Humanitarian Law (CARHR-IHL).
“They should be held accountable for the death of a medical personnel. It is very clear that in the current practice of the reactionary armed forces, the military kills indiscriminately and with impunity,” it added.
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