HR group seeks probe of NE ‘massacre’

ANGELES CITY — A human rights group urged yesterday the investigation of the alleged massacre of five civilians during military operations on an islet called Tuli in the Pantabangan river in Nueva Ecija last Oct. 8.

Sister Conchita Valerio, a nun from the religious of the virgin Mary (RVM) congregation and vice chair of the Karapatan-Gitnang Luzon, identified the victims as Jay-ar Alvendia, 15, Marvin C. Usep, 16, Leo Gallardo, 18, Gertrude Curamen, 39, and Jose martin, 42, all fishermen residing in Barangay Conversion in Pantabangan. The fingers of Curamen were chopped off, her eyes gouged out, and her head and stomach pierced with an arrow.

A fact-finding team forced by Karapatan investigated the alleged massacre, which was allegedly perpetrated by members of the 51st Reconnaissance, Army company headed by one Capt. Rogelio Eligino during an encounter with suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Tuli islet in the middle of the wide Pantabangan River.

Witnesses told Karapatan that the Army soldiers were patrolling the islet when they spotted suspected NPA guerrillas at the foot of a hill known as Tupyador on the islet.

The soldiers, who were atop the hill, opened fire at the suspected rebels, triggering an exchange of fire from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

But Fabian Hallig, an officer of Karapatan, said that the five victims were killed some 100 meters away from where the NPAs were spotted. The victims were reportedly in a hut cooking lunch while waiting for relatives who were fishing in the river.

"Our investigation showed that while the military report said that the five died in the armed clash, the location of their bodies seemed to indicate otherwise," Karapatan said.

It noted that "the remains also bore telltale signs of mutilation which suggested that the military tortured them before finishing them off."

Karapatan said that Tuli Barangay chairman Tensi Francisco and Pantabangan town board member Aurelio Riparip have testified that the five victims were innocent and were members of the United Methodist Church. — Ding Cervantes