Any lapses of Philippine troops on the ground that could have prevented their immediate capture of the suspects is under investigation as well
JUSTICE SOUGHT. Indigenous people and religious leaders join a rally to call for justice for the murdered Lumad leaders in Mindanao. Photo by Vincent Go/Rappler
The deaths of 3 civilians and burning of a cooperative store in Surigao del Sur last September 1 was due to a tribal conflict, an Army probe said.
The report was submitted to the Commander of the Army’s 4th
Infantry Division (ID) based in Cagayan de Oro City by the Army Board of Inquiry,
which conducted the investigation.
"[T]he incident in Sitio Han-ayan was a tribal conflict
within the context of insurgency, that is, one tribal group affiliated with the
New People’s Army (NPA) while the other is an anti-NPA tribal group," the
Army said in a press release Sunday, September 13, quoting the probe results.
A school director and two community leaders were among the
dead.
The inquiry board found that the military was not involved
in the killings, said Major General Oscar T. Lactao, the 4ID commander.
Instead, the deaths were attributed to paramilitary group
Magahat Bagani force.
The identifiend suspects were named Loloy Tejero, Bobby
Tejero, and Gareto Layno.
Any lapses of Philippine troops on the ground that could
have prevented their immediate capture of the suspects is under unvestigation
as well, the Army said in its release.
Col. Isidro L. Purisima, the 402nd Infantry Brigade
Commander, had been directed by Lactao to "conduct law enforcement
operation to capture the perpetrators."
“Magahat force has been known as anti-communist and as such,
it is perceived to be closely associated with the government or military,”
said Lactao.
“I would like to emphasize that it is the policy of this
Command not to condone any illegal armed groups,” he added.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/105758-ph-army-lumad-killings-tribal-conflict
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