26 soldiers face raps for botanist’s death

ORMOC CITY, Philippines – Twenty-six Army soldiers based in Leyte are facing charges for obstruction of justice in connection with the death of a botanist and two others in an alleged crossfire in Kananga town in 2010.

Among those charged were identified as 2Lt. Cameron Perez, Cpls. Henrich Montecalvo and Jesus Verona, and 23 soldiers with the rank of private first class.

Assistant state prosecutor George Yarte Jr. filed the charges in court on Friday.

Yarte said the accused reportedly prevented the arrest of 1st Lt. Ronald Odchimar, Cpl. Marlon Mores, and Pfcs. Albert Belmonte, William Bulic, Elmer Forteza, Alex Apostol, Roger Fabillar, Michael Babon and Gil Guierey, members of the team that figured in the alleged encounter with the suspected New People’s Army guerrillas in November 2010 that resulted in the death of Leonard Co and two others.

Pamela Oliver, clerk of court, said the case has yet to be raffled off, as she confirmed reports that some of the accused had already gone to their office to post bail.

Co, a botanist commissioned by the Energy Development Corp. (EDC) to conduct a study at the geothermal reservation, was killed after he was allegedly caught in a crossfire between the members of the 19th Infantry Battalion and the NPA.

Two others, forester Sofronio Cortez of the EDC and farmer Julius Borromeo, also died in the crossfire, while Roniño Gibe and Policarpio Balute survived.

Balute denied there was an encounter as he told journalists that the bullets came from one direction and only stopped when Gibe screamed and raised his hand in surrender.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces said it would make the 26 accused soldiers available for the court proceedings as it noted that it has full trust in the country’s justice system.   

Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, head of the AFP public affairs office, said they would fully cooperate with the court until the case is resolved. – Lalaine Jimenea, Jaime Laude