NPA to arrest suspects behind rape-slay of commander's kin

DAVAO CITY , Philippines  – The New People’s Army has received orders to snatch the 11 soldiers accused of raping and killing the 21-year-old daughter of a top NPA commander in Davao and bring them before the “people’s court” for trial.

In a statement posted at its website, philippinerevolution.net, the Communist Party of the Philippines said “several witnesses” have identified 11 military intelligence agents as the rapists and killers of Rebelyn Pitao, daughter of Leoncio Pitao alias Commander Parago, who heads the NPA’s Pulang Bagani Command.

“The Communist Party of the Philippines today instructed the New People’s Army to arrest and bring before the people’s court with dispatch several military suspects in the heinous crimes against Rebelyn Pitao, who was a victim of abduction, rape, torture and murder by a group of armed men who have recently been identified by several witnesses as military intelligence agents of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP),” read the statement.

CPP media officer Marco Valbuena said preliminary investigations conducted by revolutionary authorities in Davao have identified the alleged perpetrators as Sergeants Adan Sulao and Ben Tipait of the AFP Military Intelligence Group XI, Corporal Alvin Bitang of the Military Intelligence Battalion of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, and a certain Pedregosa, another intelligence agent.

“These fascist agents are believed to have carried out this dastardly crime in accordance with instructions from higher ups in their desperate campaign to shatter the determination of Commander Parago and his fellow NPA Red fighters in advancing the people’s revolution,” read the CPP statement.

Valbuena said upon conclusion of the preliminary investigation, a “people’s court” can immediately be constituted by local revolutionary committees.

“These suspects should be sought and arrested so they could undergo investigation by duly authorized revolutionary authorities and face criminal charges,” read the CPP statement.

Pitao has also named seven other soldiers – a major, three sergeants and three corporals – as having been involved in his daughter’s rape and murder last week.

However, Maj. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu, Army 10th Infantry Division commander, said justice should be given Rebelyn through the “recognized” courts.

“Justice should be served to those who deserve it,” he said.

“We should always follow the rule of law because this is the bedrock of our justice system.

“And there is no other court that could give justice to Rebelyn except our recognized courts, where the rule of law is being applied to both the accused and the accuser.”

Mapagu said the “people’s court” that the CPP is contemplating is not recognized under the Constitution.

“In essence, the CPP is now espousing how they purged or killed their members on the decision of their people’s court,” he said.

“In this court, the accused is not given the opportunity to defend himself. The case of the accused will be decided not on the merit of solid pieces of evidence or testimonies of witnesses.

“They would be tried based on speculation and hearsay, or even rumors from the other members of the organization. And we would like to reiterate that it is us, the 10th ID, who would like to see the immediate resolution of this case so those who are guilty of committing this barbaric crime will be punished and justice be given to Rebelyn.”

Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command spokesman Maj. Randolph Cabangbang said the soldiers whom Pitao accused of killing his daughter should not be made to answer charges in the NPA’s “kangaroo” court.

“We should not be frightened by their threats,” he said.

“Our soldiers should not answer to a kangaroo court composed of criminal elements. Their kangaroo court is not composed of lawyers but of criminal elements.

“But it could not be that way because of the fact that there has been no concrete evidence that would link the soldiers that Pitao mentioned to the crime itself.”

Gunmen snatched Rebelyn last March 4 while she was on her way home to Bago Gallera in Davao City.

Her body was found the following day floating in a shallow creek in Purok 5, Barangay San Isidro, Carmen, Davao del Norte.

Her body bore marks of torture, including five stab wounds in her chest, strangulation marks on her neck, and her face was also bludgeoned. Lacerations were also found in her genitals.   – With Jaime Laude