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Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Military debunks raid on human rights group's office
MILITARY and law enforcement authorities Tuesday denied involvement in Sunday's alleged ransacking of Karapatan Northern Mindanao's office.
The regional office of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) offered its assistance to shed light on the incident.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Military Intelligence Battalion of the Fourth Infantry Division in the Northern Mindanao separately denied conducting surveillance on leftists' organizations in the region.
Karapatan, a human rights group, is not in the order of battle of the military, 4th ID spokesman Francisco Simbajon said.
Simbajon said there is no special unit that was formed to closely monitor the activities of activists.
Bayan Muna regional coordinator Nero Vallar earlier blamed the ransacking, which presumably occurred at nighttime, to the "special operatives" in the military and the government's law enforcement branches.
Karapatan regional chairperson Beverly Musni said the incident was meant to intimidate militants who have been vocal in speaking against the recently withdrawn state of national emergency.
Suspects who still remain unidentified did not take anything from Karapatan's office, Musni said, bolstering the group's suspicion that the incident was not an ordinary burglary.
NBI Director Virgilio Mendez said they are washing their hands over the incident since the agency is not involved in "insurgency or political" problems.
He said they are willing to extend help in investigating the incident should the group seeks their assistance.
City Police Director Aurelio Trampe also said the local police were not involved in the incident.
But Trampe added that they would look into the matter. (Danilo V. Adorador with reports from Sun.Star SuperBalita)
(March 8, 2006 issue)
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