Saturday, May 05, 2007 Military facing murder raps anew for farmer's death By Jeffery M. Tupas Correspondent
THE military is yet again facing a complaint for the alleged murder of a farmer in Pantukan, Compostela Valley last April 19.
The family of Acuiles Tungal filed a complaint Wednesday afternoon before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR)-Southern Mindanao against the Army's 25th Infantry Battalion under the command of Major Rolando Rodil.
Major Randolph Cabangbang, spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), assured that they will make soldiers, who would be subject for investigation, available.
"I have already talked to Gen. Carlos Holganza (cgief of the Army's 101st Infantry Brigade) regarding this and he said that he will personally look into the matter," Cabangbang said.
In his affidavit, the victim's son, 11-year-old Arnulfo, said that at around 7 a.m. of April 19, he saw a soldier shoot his father while the latter was preparing breakfast in sitio Cabahian, Barangay Tibagon in Pantukan.
"Naglung-ag ug kan-on ang akong tatay samtang ako niadtong tungura namintik ug langgam didto ra pud sa duol. Sa kalit lang aduna koy nakita usa ka sundalo nga naglakaw ug pagkakita niya kang tatay akong nadungog nga gisinggitan niya ug pinaisog si tatay dayon tira kang tatay," the boy said.
"Nadungog nako ang daghang buto-buto ug nakita nako si tatay nga nalup-og nga duguan sa kadaghan sa igo sa bala sa iyang lawas. Sa tumang kahadlok, nikaratil ako ug dagan padulong sa balay sa akong magulang sa pikas nga sitio kay gigukod ko sa maong sundalo," he added.
In the same statement, the boy said he and his father, along with one Rolly Manuel, camped in the woods of the village since April 16 to hunt for wild animals.
The boy was accompanied by his mother and sister to the office of the CHR.
Assisting the family was the human rights group Karapatan-Southern Mindanao.
The victim's wife, Francisca, said Acuiles sustained about 40 gunshot wounds all over his body.
She said her husband had a fist-size wound on his stomach. Another wound was found on the victim's throat and even down to his genitals.
"Indeed, the members of 25th IB maintain their notoriety of being butchers and violators of human rights. They once again killed a civilian in their desire for blood," said Kelly Delgado, secretary general of Karapatan-Southern Mindanao.
"We will explore all means in order to seek justice for Acuiles. Local residents in Pantukan are likewise determined to advance the people's movement to defend and protect the rights of the people in the area," Delgado added.
The death of Acuiles, he said, has caused the already blood-stained province more deadly.
From January to April, the group has documented four cases of Killings, three cases of frustrated massacre, frustrated killing, torture, harassments, and even electioneering allegedly perpetrated by the soldiers deployed all over the province—all under the 101st Infantry Brigade.
Delgado said these incidents, including the death of the nine-year-old Grecil Buya, were because of the determination of Arroyo government to force its war on terror and with its implementation of Operational Plan Bantay Laya II, a sequel of another oplan that aimed at stopping insurgency.
"The unabated military operations and the harassment of civilians are part of the Arroyo government's intensified counter-insurgency campaign. The state security forces are making mincemeat out of our sacred rights and freedoms. It is apparent that Arroyo administration cannot rule and govern without resorting to peaceful methods. Mrs. Arroyo has even chosen to silence her critics on various combinations: on the sly, with impunity, and blatantly," Delgado said.
Cabangbang, however, said such cases were all isolated and cannot be used to summarize the situation of the province.
