Leonardo L. Co: His research on Phl plants abbreviated, gunned down

(Second of two parts)

This article, started in early January, had to tarry while waiting for updates on the circumstances beclouding the tragic incident, had to be “restructured” following the DOJ’s report about the Leyte killing (The Philippine STAR, Jan. 21, 2011). Accordingly, based on the report the DOJ constituted a three-man fact-finding panel that “… cleared government troops (of 9IB) of any liability in the killing of noted botanist Leonardo Co and two guides in an encounter with communist rebels in Leyte last November (2010).”

Accordingly, the same report said, “The bullets (trajectories coming from the lower ground position) that killed the three… came from the lines of the New People’s Army (NPA).” Further, the probe panel cited “… the liability of the Energy Development Corp. (EDC) for its failure to secure their personnel despite knowing that there was an NPA lair in the vicinity.” Meanwhile, the AFP Central Visayas Command “… expressed elation over the DOJ findings and branded as ‘propaganda’ the claims of leftist groups that the soldiers deliberately killed the civilians they mistook for insurgents.”

The EDC, however, dissatisfied with the report, said it was “… surprised and dismayed, adding that it “continues to be of the firm view that it adhered to its security protocols and coordinated with the military to protect its employees, consultants (e.g. Leonard Co), and contractors.”

Just as I was about to send this article to Star Science, there came an article in The Philippine STAR on Jan. 23, 2011 about the Commission on Human Rights’ move to conduct a “separate inquiry into the noted botanist Leonard Co and his two companions…,” notwithstanding the DOJ’s clearing the military of any criminal liability. Earlier, I did chide CHR as among the present dispensation’s handlers that had gone “silent” about the fatal shooting incident. It was short of blaming the CHR’s leadership failure to carry out its mandate of protecting the rights of every Filipino, including loss of lives. But then again, why did it take CHR more than 60 days to open its mouth about the killing? Were they (CHR) in a wait-and-see mode, instead of being proactive, as they are expected to be? How much longer will the victims’ bereaved families have to wait before the CHR completes and makes public its findings? Will the CHR probers include in their marching orders meeting with the victims’ families and getting direct information about their present situation, concerns and expectations from the government? What now that the lives of the victims are lost, does it mean that their rights had also been entombed with them? Will it be another case of just ALRIGHT for the rights to be lost and denied, especially that of our comrade in S&T? Will the CHR have the guts to “overturn” the DOJ’s findings? There are tons of questions which may yet remain unanswered!  

Statements from both the government panel and EDC fail to mention which of the two should attend to the concerns of the orphaned families of Co, Cortez, and Borromeo. We can read between the lines that the DOJ probe panel wants the EDC blamed for the killing and therefore must address the post-mortem concerns of the bereaved families! Where is justice, then? Will a similar scenario appear so that the victims’ families find themselves in a crossfire between the probe panel and the EDC? Being employees of the EDC, it follows that the three are covered by company benefits. We know of similar cases of victims of military operations, whether “due to a legitimate military action” or not, the AFP or PNP has unwritten obligations to the families of the victims!

Indeed, a minute of prayer for the repose of the souls of Leonard and his two EDC companions is too short to a ring a bell so that the true cause of their untimely demise is heard by the “blind-folded lady holding the balance of justice!”    

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Dr. Paciente A. Cordero Jr. is a marine biologist/phycologist and professorial lecturer and author of marine biology, ecology and mariculture subjects. He is the immediate past executive director of the National Research Council of the Philippines, Department of Science and Technology (NRCP-DOST). He is presently a visiting scientist at the Visayas State University-Tolosa, base of his NRCP-funded project on the “Biodiversity and Potential of the Marine Algae of Leyte Island - NE Phase.” His current advocacy is to tap the seaweed resources of Region 8, through mariculture of edible seaweed species, and to promote the acceptance of nutrient/protein-rich sea vegetables as food by his fellow Eastern Visayans. He hails from Burauen, Leyte. E-mail him at [email protected].