3 communist rebels charged with murder try

THE City Prosecutor's Office formally charged members of the New People's Army (NPA) allegedly responsible for the landmine explosion in Barangay Suawan in Marilog, Davao City in September, 2009.

Charged with attempted murder were Ka Archie, Ka Bryan Pitao and an unidentified member after Prosecutor Victor Sepulveda found probable cause to hold them for court trial based on the accounts of 1Lt. Vidi Tadifa Tababa, commander of Bravo Company of the 69th Infantry Batalion.

Click here for Election 2010 updates

In an affidavit, Tababa said that on September 8, 2009, he received an invitation letter from the barangay council of Barangay Marilog to attend the scheduled peace and order meeting the next day.

He went to the area on board a military vehicle for the meeting the next day, but upon reaching Sitio Laniton in Barangay Suawan in Marilog, they happened to overtake a motorcycle. While they were ahead by about five meters, a loud explosion occurred.

He said their company driver then saw and identified two of the three men who were on the grassy portion in the area.

He then ordered for a hot pursuit operation against the respondents and assisted the driver of the motorcycle identified as Ronald Sayad, a resident of Sitio Balite in Marilog district who was hit with a shrapnel.

Sepulveda recommended a bail of P120,000 for each of the respondent's temporary liberty.