Soldiers probed for alleged wrongful killing in ComVal

(Updated 2:00 a.m. October 16) Two soldiers from the Army's 66th Infantry Battalion are being investigated for the alleged wrongful killing of two persons in Compostela Valley last Sunday.

 

Kin of Lando and Judah Dagansan are calling for justice following the fatal shooting in Barangay Andap in New Bataan, GMA Davao reported Wednesday.

 

The report said the relatives are considering pursuing the case before a tribal court where the punishment for the crime would be death.

However, the imposition of the death penalty in the country has been suspended.

 

"Sa customary law, noon, sa batas ng aming mga ninuno, kung nakapatay ka, ganun din ang parusa doon sa mga sundalong nakapatay. Ganun talaga yan kasi bata pa ito eh, 17 pa lang ito. Halos tadtad ang mukha sa bala," said Resty Lino, a relative of the victims.


 

 

Police in New Bataan investigating the incident said relatives of the victims may pursue homicide charges against two soldiers.

 

"Kung sakaling magdedesisyon ang mga kaanak ng biktima na pagsampa ng kaso, homicide ang ikakaso natin. Hindi kasi ito sinadya, nagkabulagaan kasi sila doon sa area," New Bataan police station head Senior Inspector Ernesto Gregore said.

 

The report also said the head of the Army's 66th Infantry Battalion admitted the soldiers mistook the two victims for New People's Army rebels, saying the area was dark and the two shone a flashlight at the soldiers and cried, "Sundalo! Sundalo!" and startled the soldiers.

 

"Yung lead element natin, nabulag sa along the trail nang biglang silang flinashlight, dalawang flashlight, sabay nakarinig siya ng sigaw na sundalo-sunalo. So upon his immediate instinctive reaction, akala niya mga kalaban, nag-open fire siya doon sa general direction," said 66th IB commander Lt. Col. Michael Logico.

 

The two soldiers were not immediately named. They have been restricted to barracks, while the battalion said it is willing to cooperate in the investigation and turn over the two soldiers if needed.

 

"Nasa custody pa rin namin, they are being kept here for safekeeping and at any time for proper disposition, handa rin kaming i-turnover sila," Logico said. — Joel Locsin/VC, GMA News