DOJ mulls probe of IP killings in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is ready to investigate the killings and violence perpetrated allegedly by the military against lumads and other indigenous peoples in Mindanao.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she is considering a parallel investigation to be conducted by the NBI on reports that the Army’s 36th Infantry Battalion and the Special Forces connived with the Magahat or Bagani paramilitary forces in carrying out operations against the lumads.

Amid all these allegations, President Aquino gave assurance that there is no government campaign to kill lumads or indigenous people.

“We are serving the people. Serving does not mean killing the citizens,” Aquino said in a media forum aired over state-run People’s Television yesterday.

Armed Forces of the Philippines  public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato denied the allegations, saying the military has no connection with the Magahat or Bagani.

“It cannot be just purely  an NBI probe because these are no ordinary criminal offenses. These have complexities,” De Lima said.

Should the need for the NBI to step in arise, De Lima said an inter-agency body should be formed for the fact-finding. She said the panel must include prosecutors, state counsels and other agencies outside the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Among the possible issues the proposed probe may look into is the presence of the military in lumad communities.

The DOJ chief supported the move of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to look into the cases, saying an independent investigation is necessary.

CHR information officer Banuar Falcon said they are not ruling out the possibility that the military could be behind the killing of Emerito Samarca, chief of the Alternative Learning Center for Agriculture and Livelihood Development, and community leaders Dionel Campos and Aurelio Sinzo in Lianga town, Surigao del Sur on Sept. 1.

Falcon clarified they have yet to receive the confirmation report from their regional office on the matter.

He said the investigation was referred to their regional office in the Caraga region.

Raps filed vs suspects

Criminal charges were filed on Monday against three members of the Magahat or Bagani armed group and 20 others tagged in the killing of Samarca, Campos and Sinzo.

The charges – multiple murder, arson, grave coercion, grave threats and robbery – were filed with the provincial prosecutors’ office in Lianga town against Bobby Tejero, Loloy Tejero and Garito Layno.

Provincial police director Senior Superintendent Narciso Verdadero told The STAR that the suspects belonged to an armed group called Magahat Forces, reportedly led by a certain Datu Calpet Egua. – With Ben Serrano, Robertzon Ramirez,  Alexis Romero