|
Friday, February 29, 2008
Westmincom exonerates troops in Maimbung killings
By Bong Garcia
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) Inspectorate General (IG) has exonerated the soldiers who were accused of killing eight people in a coastal village of Sulu Province early this month, a military official said.
Exonerated from accusation for killing seven innocent civilians and a soldier on leave in a raid last February 4 in the village of Ipil, Maimbung, Sulu are the troops from the Army's Light Reaction Company (LRC) and Special Warfare Group (Swag) of the Navy.
Post here your Valentine's Day greetings
Westmincom Information Officer Major Eugenio Batara Jr. said Westmincom's IG cleared all the soldiers involved in the Maimbung raid, adding that the attack in the village was a legitimate military operation.
"It was a legitimate encounter with the Abu Sayyaf and that is according to the report and findings of the IG," Batara said.
The troops have insisted the raid targeted the Abu Sayyaf group and that there was a firefight between militants and soldiers in the village.
The Sulu-based military's Joint Task Force Comet earlier reported that the raid was carried out following reports that the Abu Sayyaf holding captive a lady Jolo rice trader is in the area.
Maria Rosalie Lao, 58 was seized by five bandits around 4:45 p.m. of January 28 near her residence in Kakuyagan village, Jolo.
The Westmincom reported that two soldiers were killed while five others, including a junior officer, were wounded in the hour-long firefight that broke out around 2:55 a.m. of February 4 in the town of Maimbung, Sulu.
Colonel Fred Llosa, Westmincom IG, has spearheaded the investigation over the incident.
Llosa was sent to Sulu following the allegations that the military troops killed the civilians and the soldier on leave.
The Westmincom IG findings contradicted to that of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) investigation, which recommended "Prosecution against all those involved directly or indirectly in the attack."
"None of them was an Abu Sayyaf member. Seven civilians and a government soldier were killed in that attack," CHR Regional Director Jose Manuel Mamauag said.
"From all indications, the February 4, 2008 Barangay Ipil incident is a clear breaches of human rights of the victims -- a violation of human rights," the four-man probe team said in its six-page investigation report to Mamauag.
Among those reported killed in the raid were two children, two teenagers, and a pregnant woman, including a seaweed farmer, and a village councilor.
The slain civilians were identified as Marisa Payian, 4; Wedme Lahim, 9; Alnalyn Lahim, 15; Sulayman Hakob, 17; Kirah Lahim, 45; Eldisim Lahim, 43; Narcia Abon, 24.
The slain soldier was identified as Private First Class Ibnul Wahid assigned with the Army's 6th Infantry Division based in Central Mindanao.
The four-man CHR probe team was sent to Sulu a day after the incident was reported. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (February 29, 2008 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Erap to join interfaith prayer rally