8th ID men tagged in killing of man, son

A human rights group has implicated Brig. Gen. Jovito Palparan and his men belonging to the 8th Infantry Division as suspects in the killing of a militant group member and his son in barangay Magsaysay, Sta. Rita, Samar last July 3.

Karapatan said that the death of Alrico Barbas, 30, an active member of Anakpawis and his son, Jeric, 10, are just the latest of a series of killings in Eastern Visayas perpetrated allegedly by members of the 8th ID against members of militant groups and progressive organizations. The military is reportedly accusing members of progressive organizations as being affiliated with the New People's Army.

Jennifer, 33, wife of Alrico and their son Alrico Jr., 8, were in Cebu yesterday. They are preparing to go to Manila to testify before the congressional inquiry on the alleged human rights abuses of the military in their province.

Some local officials there want Congress to investigate the alleged human rights violations and killings in Samar.

Alrico Jr., and his two younger siblings had survived the attempted massacre while they were sleeping inside their house when armed men broke in and shot their father and brother. Jennifer and her youngest child were staying at a house of a relative in Leyte when the incident happened.

The 8-year-old boy also sustained a gunshot wound on his left chest with the bullet exiting on his left shoulder but he survived.

However, an official of the Central Command, which manages the 8th ID and other military divisions and units in the Visayas, defended Palparan and his men and challenged the family of the victims to produce concrete evidence to prove Palparan and his men's alleged involvement in the crime.

Centcom spokesman Lt. Col. Jefferson Omandam yesterday told The FREEMAN that while they do not tolerate human rights abuses by their members, the victims should file a complaint and produce evidence so they could investigate their accusations.

"If these are just baseless accusations, these are bad for our organization. They should come to our office so we can investigate and give appropriate action. But their complaint should be substantial," he said.

Omandam defended Palparan, saying Omandam is a good military officer and is performing very well.

"Palparan might have disturbed the activities of the NPAs. He is performing very well. He is a professional officer and he is doing his job," he said.

Rev. Fr. Calvin Bugho, executive committee member of Karapatan national office said there are lots of human rights abuses in Eastern Visayas but this only caught the attention of the lawmakers lately after the killings of lawyer Felidito Dacut, Bayan Muna Eastern Visayas coordinator, and Fr. Edison Lapus, a conference minister of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.