A PERSON who witnessed the clash between rebels and military forces in Barangay Paradise Embac in Paquibato District, Davao City last Sunday said that she saw one of the victims tortured.
Earlier reports indicated that three suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA), namely, Randy Cornasa, Rubel Enlog, and Oligario Quimbo, were killed in an encounter with soldiers belonging to the Philippine Army's 69th Infantry Battalion (69IB) in the said area.
The three suspected NPA members were at the residence of Aida Seisa, secretary-general of Paquibato District Peasant Alliance (Padipa) and vice-chairperson of Sabokahan Confederation of Lumad Women, to celebrate her daughter's birthday when the incident transpired.
Elisa Castillo, during the wake of two of the victims at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Chapel, said that they saw Enlog being tortured.
Enlog, the tribal chieftain of the area, was allegedly splashed with boiling water.
Enlog's wife, Josefina, also said that one of her husband's ears seemed to have signs of laceration and that the gun wounds they saw were just on his feet.
In a text message, however, Eastern Mindanao Command public information officer chief Captain Alberto Caber denied the accusations, saying these statements were made to mislead the public.
"Let them speak based on truth and not based on Karapatan's manipulation," Caber added, pertaining to the human rights group Karapatan-Southern Mindanao.
Major General Eduardo Ano, 10th Infantry Division commander, asked the public to never believe in all the allegations made by Karapatan, saying it's part of the group's propaganda.
"Positive sila lahat sa powder burns. Quimbo ay miyembro ng NPA under kay Parago for almost one month. Si Enlog ay tumutulong sa pagrecruit ng mga lumad sa NPA. Cornasa naman ay miyembro ng pinakamababang unit ng NPA," he said.
He also said Army personnel involved in the encounter with the rebels are willing to attend should they be asked by the City Council.
"Ready kaming humarap para maipresent namin yung mga evidences namin to prove they were members of the lawless group," Ano said.
But the wives of Enlog and Quimbo (Flordeliza Quimbo) said that their husbands are not members of the NPA.
Josefina and Flordeliza also said that they are determined to file a case before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for the deaths of their husbands.
Cornasa's remains were reportedly brought back to Paquibato on Tuesday, while Enlog and Qumbo's remains were set to be taken Wednesday.
The families of those who were killed are currently being assisted by the City Government of Davao.
CHR-Davao, meanwhile, is reportedly set to conduct an investigation on the incident. (KGL/With KRP)