Tuesday, October 31, 2006 Civilian complains v. Army, 3 Cafgus By Danny B. Dangcalan
A 26-year-old man from Isabela town has requested Board Member Francis Gerard Tuvilla Monday to ask for the restriction of an Army man and three members of Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) who allegedly strafed him at a sugar cane field last October 9.
Janico Dela Cruz Jr., of Sitio Kalasag, Barangay Mansablay, reported to Isabela Police Station that a certain Corporal Raniel Villasis, a member of the Philippine Army detailed at Barangay Cansalogon Detachment in Isabela, attempted to shoot him thrice with a caliber .45 pistol.
He said Villasis tripped and failed to hit him. While he was running away from his assailant, he was also reportedly chased by three still unidentified Cafgu members and attempted to shoot him several times using M14 rifle.
The suspects, however, did not find him while he was hiding inside the cane field. He said he decided to stay in in the cane field until the morning.
Dela Cruz also alleged that Villasis and the three Cafgu members were in civilian clothes and “drunk” when the incident occurred.
Based on testimony of dela Cruz, he was having a drinking spree with a certain Panoy Guzman on the night of October 9. When he tried to borrow Guzman’s firearm, the latter got irked and reportedly aimed the gun at him.
As natural instinct of self-preservation, he reportedly seized the gun from Guzman and immediately run home, taking with him the firearm.
The next day, dela Cruz, together with his father Janico Sr. who is also a kagawad, reportedly went to the Isabela Police station to endorse the seized firearm.
It appeared that the .38 caliber revolver he seized from Guzman was unlicensed and allegedly sold to Guzman by Villasis.
Janico Sr., who also accompanied his son to see Tuvilla, said Villasis and the three Cafgu members went to their house later to amicably settle the matter.
Janico Sr., however, is bent on filing criminal charges against the suspects, as they want nothing more but for justice to be served them.
Board Member Tuvilla, for his part, assured the dela Cruz family that the suspects will be dealt with criminal and administrative charges immediately.
He said he has coordinated yesterday with Coloenl Gregorio Fajardo, commander of the 303rd Infantry Battalion, Isabela Mayor Renato Malabor and Isabela Police Chief Alexander Muñoz for the restriction of these suspects.
Tuvilla said he will also consult dela Cruz’ complaint with the Commission on Human Rights in Bacolod.
Tuvila, who also chairs the SP committee on peace and order, vowed to help weed-out “scalawags” in the police force.
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