VARIOUS progressive groups are set to conduct a fact-finding mission following the deaths of three lumads in Paquibato District, Davao City last Sunday.
The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) in Southern Mindanao, Kalumaran and Pasaka Confederation of Lumads Organization will lead the national fact-finding mission on June 20.
Pedro Arnado, spokesperson for the KMP, said the groups aim to gather more accounts on the June 14 massacre that took place at Purok 7 in Barangay Paradise Embac, Paquibato District.
"The purpose of the mission is to ascertain the details of the incident and get the accounts of the neighbors who were close to the area at the time of the incident," Arnado said.
"We have to get the stories of those who were at the sidelines of the incident. This would help us unravel the truth," he added, hoping that the neighbors of the victims would open up to the inquiry.
Meanwhile, Karapatan secretary general Hanimay Suazo said they are making the probe to give justice to the victims. She added that both the victims and the public have to be given justice.
"The victims were misrepresented as rebels in the news while the latter are unfortunate to have been misinformed by yet another lousy propaganda smack of the Philippine Army's 10th Infantry Division," Suazo said.
KMP and Karapatan are expected to present the result of the fact-finding mission next week and submit the same to various human rights organizations both local and international.
On Sunday, soldiers belonging to the 69th Infantry Battalion claimed killing Randy Cornasa, Rubel Enlog, and Oligario Quimbo, believed to be members of the New People's Army, in an encounter. (ICT)