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Saturday, May 13, 2006
Human rights group sees military hand in Kidapawan blast
THE military appears to be involved in the grenade blast in Kidapawan City that seriously injured two leaders of militants groups, according to the fact-finding mission conducted by militant human rights group Karapatan.
Karapatan conducted the fact-finding mission together with other 16 church-based organizations under the Inter-faith Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights last May 11.
In their report, the group found a "plausible involvement of the 39th Infantry Battalion to the grenade blast in Kidapawan."
"From our fact-finding mission it was made clear that there is the involvement of military force and that we cannot point to anyone else except the 39th Infantry Brigade," Anakpawis Caraga regional coordinator Linos Cubal said in a press conference Friday.
The report said the attack against Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) spokesperson Jobanie Tacadao and Anakpawis coordinator Roderick Abalde was the handiwork of state security forces.
"Prior to the blast, the victims and their colleagues were already under surveillance and being intimidated by military forces using a vehicle identified to be owned by an ally of North Cotabato Governor Emmanuel Piñol," the report said.
Cubal said, "Before the incident they (Tacadao and Abalde) were surveyed even and again at the emergency room an intelligence agent went to confirm their presence and they state -- whether they were alive or dead -- and it appears that the execution was planned."
"Imagine, just minutes after the blast somebody already went to the police precinct to ask if there has been a grenade blast incident reported," Bayan Southern Mindanao region secretary general Ariel Casilao added during the same press conference.
Meanwhile, Task Force Davao chief Eduardo del Rosario said the accusation of the group is not a new thing.
"Karapatan is fishing and again accuses the usual fall guy, the military. I hope they present concrete evidence before blaming anyone just like when Governor Piñol was also accused earlier," del Rosario said.
Piñol had earlier challenged the militant groups to show evidence of their accusations at the same time warning them that he is preparing to file a libel case against them.
The groups in their report urge the Commission on Human Rights and other independent bodies to conduct further investigation on the incident.
They also urge an independent and deeper investigation on the alleged role of Piñol in the attack. (BRQ)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (May 13, 2006 issue)
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