Wednesday, October 03, 2007 Army denies 5 soldiers involved in Laak shooting By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE Army's 10th Infantry Division vehemently denied that five of their men are involved in the shooting of two farmers in Laak, Compostela Valley last week.
Lieutenant Colonel Rolando Bautista, public information officer of 10th ID, said there were no militiamen and Army soldiers involved in the shooting of Titing Rodriguez, 47, and his son-in-law Rene Adlawan, 24, both residents of Sitio Balwarte, Barangay San Antonio last September 25.
Jimboy Rodriguez, brother of Titing, said the victims were harvesting corn when about five armed men arrived at the area and confronted Titing. Jimboy said Titing was accused by the armed men of having a hand in the death of a Cafgu in Laak a week earlier.
It was learned that a militiaman was killed by the New People's Army rebels in the area two weeks ago and Titing was suspected as the one who informed the rebels about the presence of the Civilian Auxillary Forces geographical UNit (Cafgu) men in the area.
Jimboy said that after a brief altercation, the armed men then fired at Titing and Rene several times. The suspects then left the area casually after the incident. Jimboy said several witnesses have identified the suspects as Cafgu members and Army soldiers.
Bautista said their investigation showed that no military personnel were involved in the shooting incident contrary to the allegation of the victims' family.
