CHR to file murder raps against Army officer in Cagayan

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines — The regional office of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is set to file charges of murder and multiple serious illegal detention against a junior officer and some members of the Army’s 17th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Alcala, Cagayan. The case stemmed from the alleged killing of a certain Romy Caguia of Sicalao village Lasam town here and the incarceration of three other people identified as Marcos Academia, Randy Miguel and Johnny Aburot. The three were allegedly detained by the military for two days without any charges filed against them. A member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) identified as Pablito Costano is still missing and another witness to the crime, Jovito Domingo, is believed to be still under military custody. According to a radio interview, SPO4 Marlon Yano of the Alcala police said that witnesses positively identified Lt. Johnny Calub as the look-out for a group of armed men who perpetuated the killing of Caguia last month. Reports also disclosed that Sgt. Edwin Congay and intelligence operatives from the 77th IB based in Lasam pointed to the group of Calub as the perpetrators of the crime. The allegations were however denied by Col. Remigio Rivera, commanding officer of the 501st Infantry Brigade. He said that his men were innocent and that Domingo is not in their custody. “I already talked to Calub’s battalion commander and he reported that they have already investigated Calub who denied taking part in the incident, “Rivera said. Rivera also said that members of the rebel National People’s Army (NPA) could be the ones behind the crime. “Galit kasi ang mga NPA sa mga nag CAFGU at sa mga pamilya nila," he added. (NPA rebels don’t like people who joined CAFGU and their families get the same treatment.) Meanwhile, elements of the Lasam police said that the result of their investigation on the matter is the same as that of the military’s intelligence and investigation unit. CHR said that after summing up all the facts and circumstances, it is now also preparing for a petition for a writ of amparo. - Floro Taguinod, GMANews.TV