DAVAO. Evangeline Pitao, wife of Leoncio Pitao, alias Ka Parago, and commander of the Pulang Bagani Brigade of the New People's Army, cries for justice as she delivers her statement to the media beside her husband's coffin at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes on July 3, 2015. (Seth delos Reyes)
THE wife of Leoncio "Kumander Parago" Pitao said Friday that she will file a human rights violation case against the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) after the burial of her husband on July 10.
Evangeline Pitao said she was outraged after learning that a total of eight bullets from an M-16 rifle took Kumander Parago's life.
An autopsy report was done on Parago's body. The report was submitted by the Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco) recently.
"Ing-ana sila (AFP) ka brutal mupatay ug isa ka rebolusyonaryo. Ang isa ka bala makapatay na na ug tao pero sa akong asawa walo kabuok ang narecover (This is how they kill members of revolutionary groups. One bullet can already kill a person but Soco recovered eight bullets from my husband's body)," Evangeline told reporters in Friday's press conference at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes.
Parago, commander of the 1st Pulang Bagani Battalion, along with his medical aide identified as Kyle Limpag, was killed in a 20-minute firefight with the 6th Scout Ranger Company, 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion under the 1st Scout Ranger Regiment at Barangay Panalum, Paquibato District in Davao City.
"Masakiton nato akong bana. Duha ka tuig na niya giantos iyang hepatitis, hyperthyroidism, ug diabetes. Wala pud siyay armas pag-atake sa mga sundalo (My husband was very sick. He endured all his illness for over two years. He was unarmed when the army attacked them)," Evangeline said.
Evangeline is seeking justice for the deaths of her husband and her daughter Rebelyn, who was killed in 2013 due to rebellion.
"Para sa akoa, madawat nako ang pagkamatay sa akong asawa kay apil man gyud siya sa grupo pero kadtong sa akong anak, sakit kaayo to kay sibilyan ra to sya (Personally, I can accept my husband's death since he was a member of the armed group. But my daughter was just a civilian, she has nothing to do with the NPA)," Evageline added.
The communist group, according to Evageline, will not falter contrary to the statements of several high ranking officials of the Army.
"Mas magpabiling lig-on gihapon ang group (The NPA-Southern Mindanao Regional Command will remain strong)," she said.
Bishop Danny Dapitan of Exodus for Justice and Peace, in a separate statement, said they will provide assistance to Parago's family.
"We will provide the Pitao family with the necessary humanitarian care they need," Dapitan said.
Dapitan also called for a resumption of the peace talks between the Government of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front.
"We will continue to work and pray for peace," Dapitan said.
Evangeline, meanwhile, said the death of her husband is a loss to their family and the masses who believe in his ideologies.
"Sakit gihapon kaayo iyang pagkamatay niya. Dili lang siya kawalan sa amoa kundi ang masa na nagasaludo sa iyaha (His death is still painful for our family. But it's not our loss but also to those who supported him)," she added.
Parago's wake will be at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes until Sunday, July 5, Sunday. His wake will be transferred to Iglesia Filipina Independiente Church at F. Torres St. on Monday until Wednesday, and then will stay at the Almendras Gym Recreation Center on July 9.
Parago will be laid to rest at the Davao Memorial Park.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2015/07/03/paragos-wife-seeks-justice-416847
The statements of Evangeline Pitao are part of an ongoing communist propaganda effort to discredit the Philippine military operation that led to the death of her husband, Kumander Parago. The commies are attempting to turn a tactical disaster into a propaganda victory by asserting that the Philippine military essentially murdered her "unarmed" husband and his female medic.
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