|
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Top NPA rebel leader slain; 3 nabbed in clash
By Jeff M. Tupas
DAVAO CITY -- The highest official of the New People's Army operating in Davao del Sur and North Cotabato provinces was killed Sunday morning in what authorities described as a "combination of raid and encounter."
Three other suspected rebels were arrested after the incident.
Col. Arnold Quiapo, chief of the Army's 39th Infantry Battalion based in the city, said the death of Renante Ediza or Kumander Benjie Pahak was "good news".
"We have good news! We finally got Kumander Benjie," Quiapo told radio station dxND in Kidapawan City, stressing the slain rebel leader was wanted for the many crimes he committed over the years.
Quiapo said Ediza headed NPA's Front 51, replacing Amado Pitao, alias Kumander Benzar.
Front 51 operates in the hinterlands of Makilala, Kidapawan City, and some parts of Davao del Sur.
During the incident, however, another ranking official of the NPA's Southern Mindanao Regional Committee, identified as Kumander Dodot, was able to escape. Front 51 is under Dodot's committee.
Quiapo said the incident happened at about 10 a.m. when some of his soldiers were about to serve a warrant of arrest on Benjie in Barangay Kisante.
At that time, Benjie was with two journalists inside the house of a certain George Dante.
"Some of our men conducted command patrol in the area and we were tipped off to their presence. We went to the area...Benjie shoot it out with our men," Quiapo said.
But Quiapo's claim that Ediza was killed in an encounter was refuted by a journalist who was with the rebel during the incident.
George Vigo of the Union of Catholic Asian News (Ucan) said there never was a shootout or encounter because Benjie was not able to return fire.
"I did not even see the baby armalite that they are talking about. All I know is that Benjie was not at all able to return fire because I did not see him carrying a gun or the baby armalite that the military is claiming to have recovered in the area," Vigo said.
"It was plainly a raid. Not an encounter. Not a shootout. Had they given Benjie a chance to surrender, he would have surrendered. I could say that their intention was really to get him dead," Vigo said, adding that by the look of the slain rebel's body he was shot at a very close range.
Ediza succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds on his body, including on his head.
Recovered from the scene were a baby armalite, a laptop, and some documents, which according to Quiapo could give the military a clear view of the extent of NPA's operation in the region.
During the incident, the military arrested at least three others including the son of Dante identified as Geramie.
The two others were Josephus Ramada of Davao City and one Musa of Cotabato City.
Ramada and Musa are being investigated, said Quiapo, adding their excuse that they were just dropping by the area when the clash happened was lame.
Geramie's father also denied insinuations his son is involved in the movement.
He said his son was looking after his store when the incident happened.
Ediza is also charged in the killing of one Dodoy Epal of Sitio Tungkaling, Darapuay, Davao del Sur last week.
The NPA alleged that Epal was an informant of the military.
He was last seen with the group of Benjie in Nov. 15 and was found dead in New Bulatukan, Makilala a day after.
Vigo said Ediza called him to clear something about the incident.
Benjie, he said, was even planning to call for a press conference to discuss Epal's death.
(November 23, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Justice office takes 2 fiscals off Arbet case