Army officer faces raps for farmer's slay

TUGUEGARAO CITY – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has filed murder charges against a junior Army officer in connection with last month’s killing of a farmer in Lasam, Cagayan.

Aside from the murder case, Lt. Johnny Calub, along with some of his men from the Army’s 17th Infantry Battalion based in Alcala town, is also named in a petition for writ of amparo before the regional trial court in Ballesteros town for the disappearance of another Lasam farmer.

Maj. Gen. Melchor Dilodilo, chief of the Isabela-based Army’s 5th Infantry Division, said they would also investigate the incident, vowing they would not hesitate to sanction any of their men who are proven to be responsible.

Dilodilo said his command – which covers the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Cordillera regions – values and respects the rights of every individual.

Calub was tagged in the killing of farmer Romy Caguia in Barangay Sicalao, Lasam town and in the disappearance of one Jovito Domingo.

Domingo, together with three others, was abducted by armed men believed to be members of the 17th IB last Oct. 10. The incident resulted in Caguia’s killing.

The other three, identified as Marcos Academia, Randy Miguel and Johnny Alburot, were released after two days.

The CHR alleged that Calub’s group was also responsible for the disappearance of Pablito Costano, a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit in the area, who reportedly witnessed the alleged Army atrocities.

Army officials, however, denied the allegations, saying they were in fact making efforts to find the missing farmer, who they believe was abducted by the New People’s Army.