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Friday, March 05, 2004
Reyes, Corpus cleared in Davao twin bombings
DAVAO CITY -- The independent commission tasked by President Arroyo to investigate the twin bombings that hit Davao City last year cleared former Defense Sec. Angelo Reyes and former Intelligence chief Victor Corpus of involvement in the incidents.
The five-man Maniwang Commission also finds no case against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the Davao airport bombing in March 4 and the Sasa wharf bombing in April 2 last year.
But Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte gives more weight on the government investigation than the one initiated by the Maniwang Commission.
The commission, chaired by Msgr. Pedro B. Maniwang, parish priest of Sta. Ana Parish Shrine in Davao City, denied a claim by rebel Capt. Milo Maestrecampo that the rebel junior officer was ordered by his superiors to bomb mosques in Davao City.
Maestrocampo is one of the five leaders in the failed 2003 Oakwood mutiny.
Maniwang, with commission members Anita Alfelor-Alagaban, Joji Ilagan-Bian, Naguib Sinarimbo, Justice Usec. Ramon Liwag and former Justice Usec. Jose Calida went to Malacaņang Thursday to submit their findings and recommendations on the Davao bombings to President Arroyo, through Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo.
The commission was formed by Arroyo in September following allegations by the Magdalo group that Reyes and Corpus were behind the bombings.
The Magdalo group based their allegation on documents of an operation dubbed as "Oplan: Greenbase" supposedly made by then presidential adviser on the peace process Eduardo Ermita. The commission deemed the document as "fake."
Maniwang, in a briefing in Malacaņang, said their findings were based on documents and reports they gathered, along with testimonies from 49 witnesses from Davao and Metro Manila.
The commission, in its report, said there was no evidence linking Reyes or Corpus to the bombing of the Davao airport and the Sasa Wharf Seaport.
Sudang innocent
The commission also was not convinced that Muntazer Sudang, the prime suspect in the bombing of the Davao airport and suspected MILF member, could stage such an attack, adding that the police admitted that Sudang and some of his relatives have been charged simply because they had been identified as MILF members.
Sudang was at the airport to fetch an arriving relative when the bomb exploded at the crowded waiting shed outside the facility.
"It would task one's credulity to believe that Muntazer would detonate the bomb at the waiting shed and thereby expose himself and his relatives to possible death and grave injury," the commission said.
Maniwang said while they are not asking the court to drop the charges against Muntazer, his alleged cohorts and some MILF leaders tagged in the incident, they urged the prosecutor's office to review the evidence and facts of the case again.
The MILF has been asking the government to drop the charges against their leaders as part of confidence-building measures.
Democracy
Duterte on the other hand said he respects the investigations conducted by other independent groups.
"We live in a democracy. Maybe others are not satisfied with the government's investigation so they created their own fact-finding group. Nobody can stop them from doing their own investigation. I concede to their right to do it," Duterte said.
While he recognizes other investigations conducted by several NGOs, Duterte said the City Government is doing its best to finally serve justice to the victims of the bombing incident.
"Millions have already been spent for this, but I could say that justice grinds exceedingly slow. To the extent that there were suspects already charged of the incident, we can say justice is moving. But, justice has not been served yet for the victims," Duterte said.
22 candles
Duterte offered prayers, flowers and lighted 22 big white candles at the bombed waiting shed fronting the old Davao International Airport (DIA) terminal in memory of those who perished in the tragic incident exactly a year ago.
A total of 22 persons died in the bombing incident, while 113 others were injured and are still recovering from the trauma brought about by the blast.
"We shall continue to pray for guidance and that justice will finally be done to the victims," Duterte said.
Duterte bared observations that the search for justice for the bombing victims "grinds exceedingly slow."
However, Duterte said that there are indeed rules to be followed and rights to be protected in the investigation.
The mayor, however, assured that assistance from the local government would go on for the survivors and families of those who died in the bombing.
"I hope that it is already a policy of the government. If I am still there, then the assistance will continue. But if I am no longer in the position, it is up to the next mayor whether or not to continue the financial assistance to the families of the victims," Duterte said. JMR of Sunnex Luzon and Aurea A. Gerundio of Sun.Star Davao
(March 5, 2004 issue)
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