Army restricts Pitao slay ‘suspects’ to barracks (12:45 p.m.)
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY — Two of four soldiers accused by Leoncio Pitao alias Kumander Parago of killing his daughter, Rebelyn, were ordered confined to a military camp in Panacan, Davao City.
Placed under camp restriction were Sgt. Henry Bitang and Cpl. Orly Pedrigoza. The Army’s 10th Infantry Division admitted the two are with the Military Intelligence Battalion (MIB) of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division.
The two are restricted to camp while the Philippine Army conducts an investigation.
Two other soldiers identified by Parago as having a hand in Rebelyn’s death are Sergeants Adan Sulao and Ben Tipait. Tipait is with the Military Intelligence Group (MIG), but Sulao’s unit is not yet known.
MIG said Tipait has been in Manila since February, and it was thus impossible for him to be responsible for Rebelyn’s death.
MIG officials even showed Sun.Star Davao Tipait’s boarding pass to prove he has been in Manila since February 19 to attend an enlisted personnel intelligence course.
The document showed that Tipait’s flight PR820 left Davao at 9:20 a.m. on February 19.
Major General Reynaldo Mapagu of the 10th ID ordered Bitang and Pedrigoza restricted to camp while an investigation is ongoing.
The military appealed to all sectors not to resort to trial by publicity and allow due process to work.
The Communist Party of the Philippines meanwhile vowed to arrest the four soldiers so they could be made to face charges before a revolutionary “people’s court.” (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
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