‘2 slain activists in Cagayan threatened by military’

The two activists who were found dead in Cagayan on Wednesday had been receiving threats from the military, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) claimed yesterday.

KMP spokesman Carl Ala said a joint fact-finding mission made by their group and Anakpawis indicated the victims – Arthur Orpilla and Dionisio Batad – were earlier asked "to report" to the Army’s 17th Infantry Battalion headquarters before they were found murdered last Wednesday.

"Both Orpilla and Batad received verbal threats from the military before they disappeared and eventually found dead in the river," Ala claimed.

Ala said their initial information indicated Batad received the most injury as his head was almost severed from his body while his eyes were taken out.

He said this showed that the victims were tortured before their bodies were dumped into the Cagayan River where they were later found floating under the Magapit bridge near Lallo town.

Both victims were leaders of KMP and Anakpawis in the region.

Their bullet-riddled bodies also bore multiple stab wounds, police said.

"The KMP and Karapatan intend to conduct an autopsy on the corpses," Ala said.

Ala claimed the two, both residents of Bagunot village in Baggao town, were earlier ordered to report before 2Lt. Johnny Calob of the Army’s 17 IB on March 27 before they were reported missing since then.

Task Force Usig head Chief Superintendent Geary Barias has ordered an investigation into the murders.

Barias said they will have to coordinate their efforts with the KMP to identify the killers.

On the other hand, human rights group Karapatan claimed another activist was abducted by unidentified men and remains missing.

Karapatan spokesman Ruth Cervantes identified the missing activist as Charlie Fortaliza, whose wife was "arbitrarily arrested" last year by the military for rebellion in Hilongos, Leyte.

Cervantes claimed Fortaliza is among the respondents of the multiple murder case filed against Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, stemming from the discovery of a mass grave in the town by the military last year.