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Friday, March 31, 2006
Council probe on Paquibato not proper: task force chief
TASK Force Davao (TFD) chief Eduardo del Rosario strongly criticized the ongoing investigation being conducted by the City Council on the recent atrocities in Paquibato district.
In a press conference at the TFD headquarters Thursday, Colonel del Rosario said the investigation led by Councilor Jimmy Dureza is "not proper" since the atrocities committed in Paquibato by suspected bandits are a police matter.
Del Rosario said he tends to believe that the real reason for the council investigation is because of the call of one councilor to disband the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) and paramilitary detachments in the area, a move that del Rosario said would greatly affect the counter-insurgency campaign of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the area.
Councilor Nenita R. Orcullo has been calling on the disarming of lumads recruited by the Army since they are said to be the cause of the ongoing strife in Paquibato. Orcullo has been convincing her colleagues of such.
"The City Council is barking up the wrong tree," del Rosario said.
Persecution
Tribal leaders in Paquibato and Marilog districts also joined in condemning the council probe and appealed to the councilors to protect the lumads rather than persecute them.
Paquibato deputy mayor Roel Ali said though they are supporting the call for a localized peace process to address the problem in Paquibato but not the disarming of the lumad paramilitary group.
Datu Joel Unad said there is no truth to the accusation that the lumad bandit group led by Kumander Dante is a creation of the Philippine Army. He said Dante's group is composed of four persons only.
Del Rosario said that based on intelligence information, Dante's group actually started out as an anti-communist group that operates outside the control of the military.
"Nung nagtagal itong grupo ni Dante ay naubusan na ng pagkaperahan kaya they decided to turn into banditry," del Rosario said.
The tribal leaders said it is more likely that the bandit group is a creation of the NPA since the areas where Dante's group operates are said to be controlled by the rebels.
Tribal leader Datu Ruben Labawan said Barangays Lumiad and Mapula, where several atrocities had been committed by Dante and his men, are controlled by the NPA's Kumander Parago.
"No armed man can leave that area alive because this is controlled by Parago," Labawan said.
Rebels sanctuary
The vast area of Paquibato, which comprises about 25 percent of the total land area of Davao City, is said to be a strategic area for NPA rebels such that they are doing everything that it takes to control and preserve the area. The slopes of Paquibato, which is on the second district, intersect with the hinterland areas of Marilog in the third district, which is adjacent to the mountains of Bukidnon. It is also adjacent to the mountainous areas of Davao del Norte.
Del Rosario said this could be the reason why the rebel group is using all of its machineries, be it legal or illegal, to ensure that the anti-insurgency campaign of the military in the area would not be successful.
"Paquibato is the sanctuary of the NPA in Davao City. The NPA survival depends on their foothold in the Paquibato area. Pag nawala sa kanila ang Paquibato area ay wala na silang iba pang matatakbuhan sa Davao," del Rosario said.
Military operations in the area had been relentless the past months. (BOT)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (March 31, 2006 issue)
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