Army officer investigated on killing

The Philippine Army leadership has finally approved the prosecution of an Army officer accused of ordering the killing of one of his men for refusing to carry out a "special mission" to liquidate a woman town mayor in Abra last year.

Army spokesman Maj. Bartolome Bacarro said the pre-trial investigation of Col. Noel Mislang, relieved commander of the Army’s 41st Infantry Battalion based in Abra, started last Nov. 25 at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio.

"The pre-trial investigation covers the gathering and marking of the pieces of evidence. By January, we expect a hearing to be called by the Judge Advocate General’s Office," Bacarro said.

Mislang was accused of ordering the killing of Cpl. Antonio Rosqueta who, along with Cpl. Eduardo Barcelona, refused to carry out his "special mission" to assassinate Lagayan, Abra Mayor Cecilia Luna.

Barcelona was wounded in the attack which took place last December after he and Rosqueta, both fearing for their lives, had executed sworn statements to military probers.

Abra Gov. Vicente Valera was tagged in the plot to kill Luna. He, however, has denied the allegation.