Tuesday, May 01, 2007 8 troops in shooting confined to barracks By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE eight Army soldiers involved in the shooting incident in New Bataan, Compostela Valley several days ago were ordered confined to barracks by their superiors so they could be readily available if needed.
Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) chief General Rodolfo Obaniana, ordered the soldiers' "confinement" after they were involved in a shooting incident that resulted in the death of two civilians and the wounding of three others.
Eastmincom spokesperson Major Randolph Cabangbang, however, clarified that the restriction was made not because the soldiers are being punished but simply to make it easier for their superior officers to seek them in case they are needed for questioning.
The eight soldiers belong to the Army's 28th Infantry Battalion and were headed by 2nd Lieutenant Chester Salamanca. Initial reports reaching Sun.Star showed that the soldiers were relieved from their duty.
Cabangbang, however, denied this as he assured the soldiers of the full support of the whole Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
"General Obaniana reiterates that the soldiers were just doing their job. It will not be a good precedence if security checkpoints are ignored on purpose and the AFP or PNP will not react," Cabangbang said.
He said that even the victims themselves have already executed their affidavit of desistance in favor of the soldiers, adding this just show that the soldiers were merely performing their job and should not be entirely blamed for the incident.
Cabangbang added that the Army have already given a total of P90,000 as support to the victims and their families.
Motorcycle driver, Warlito Villafuerte, reportedly admitted his fault for ignoring the military. Villafuerte also divulged that one of his passengers, Monith Bugahod, figured in an altercation that caused him to be shot in his foot.
Warlito, Bugahod, Elias Mabundas, Warlito Villafuerte Sr., and Beato Suralta, were going to the Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum City when they bypassed the first military checkpoint.
After that, the second checkpoint, which was about 700 meters away, was immediately alerted.
Again, despite repeated warnings to stop, Villafuerte ignored the soldiers prompting them to fire warning shots in the air before finally shooting the civilians.
Auling Bugahod and Mabundas were killed on the spot, while the other three were badly injured.
