Noynoy wants end to killings

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino ordered yesterday the Department of Justice (DOJ), Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to immediately end the spate of unexplained killings.

In an interview in Ilagan, Isabela, the President said although nothing has been established yet, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima believed that law enforcers, especially the military, could have a hand in some of the killings.

He said investigation must be pursued to get to the bottom of such killings, but he refused to impose a deadline “just to earn brownie points.”

The President paid respects to three soldiers - Private First Class Anthony Bunagan in Tuguegarao, Cagayan and PFC Camilo Topinio of Barangay Mangaring and Sgt. Melchor Castro of Barangay Marana, both from Isabela - who were killed in an encounter with rebels.

The three were among seven soldiers ambushed at Sitio Sugit, Barangay Samoki, Bontoc, Mountain Province on their way to a medical mission.

He said because of the tragedy, he wanted a review of the systems and procedures in the military to minimize unnecessary risks for soldiers.

He added that with the insurgency, the government must be able to improve the condition of families once tragedies happen.

He said he had instructed the AFP to constitute a Board of Inquiry to look into incidents involving aggrieved soldiers.

The President said the families of soldiers would each get P250,000 in death benefits from his office, P180,000 in housing assistance, and other forms of assistance like scholarship for at least one child and a certain amount of advanced payment of salaries.

Death investigation division

Meanwhile, NBI Director Magtanggol Gatdula disclosed that he would create a “death” investigation division to handle unexplained and media killings.

In yesterday’s press conference, Gatdula said he would tap the best investigators of the bureau for the division.

He added that the NBI would concentrate on high-profile cases and not on those that could be done by police.

“The NBI will no longer conduct raids on night clubs. The talents and expertise of the agents, lawyers should not be wasted,” he said.

Aside from the NBI’s manhunt of fugitive Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who was charged with two counts of murder in connection with the November 2000 killing of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito, the NBI has to deal with other big cases like the so-called “Hello, Nico” controversy, the alleged pre-programming of the compact flash (CF) cards used in the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines, the Maguindanao massacre, and drugs and human trafficking.

In Pampanga, two members of the New People’s Army (NPA) liquidation squad also known as the Sparrow Unit who surrendered to Army authorities three years ago have accused Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) chair Jose Ma. Sison of issuing an order to execute unproductive and non-active members of the underground movement.

They said Sison’s order was aimed at discrediting the government in general and the military and the police in particular.

Col. Ricardo Visaya, former commander of the 69th Infantry Battalion, quoting confessions made to him by surrenderees, said the order has not been rescinded.

In Camp Olivas, also in Pampanga, police formed the Task Force Guevarra to conduct an extensive investigation into the slaying of peasant leader Pascual Guevarra.

Senior Superintendent Ricardo Marquez, Nueva Ecija provincial police director, said they are now looking into two angles - land dispute and “financial matters.” - With Sandy Araneta, Jaime Laude, Ric Sapnu, Charlie Lagasca