Bayan to GMA: Suspend Eastern Mindanao Military Officers Responsible for Murder of NPA Daughter

BY BULATLAT

Multisectoral group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) today challenged Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to prove her sincerity in bringing justice to the murder of Rebelyn Pitao by making heads roll in the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), in particular those who must be directly held accountable for the killing.

Pitao, 20, daughter of Leoncio Pitao, a commander of the New People’s Army (NPA) known as Commander Parago, was abducted by four armed men at 6:30 p.m. last March 4, 2009 at the crossing of Bago Gallera de Oro Subdivision, Bago Gallera, Tolomo, Davao City. She was found dead floating on a river at Carmen, Davao del Norte the next day.

Her body bore five stab wounds and marks of torture, and the autopsy report also found a laceration in her genitals, indicating the probability of rape.

Bayan issued the statement in reaction to the order of Mrs. Arroyo, Sunday for the Presidential Committee on Human Rights and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to probe the case of Pitao.

DR. Carol Araullo, Bayan chairperson, said, “It is very easy for Mrs. Arroyo to call for a probe especially with the scale of public condemnation over this brutal crime.” Araullo said that not only Commander Parago, the NPA or the National Democratic Front (NDF) believe that the military is behind the murder of Rebelyn, even the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the ordinary Davaoeños and the general public believe so.

The NDF and the MILF have separately blamed the military as the perpetrators. The NDF said that the Rebelyn’s case further made the peace talks with the Government Republic of the Philippines (GRP) untenable.

“But if such investigation will go anywhere is another matter,” added Araullo.

The Bayan leader said that Mrs. Arroyo herself should act decisively and pending the results of the probe, suspend the top leaders of the Eastern Mindanao Command of the AFP including its commander, Major General Armando Cunanan and 10th Infantry Division commanding officer, Major General Reynaldo Mapagu.as well as the officers of these units’ intelligence group.

Araullo pointed out, however, that it would be wishful thinking for the public to expect Mrs. Arroyo to make such moves without strong public pressure.

“The atrocious human rights record of the Arroyo administration, which is notorious worldwide, and the impunity that it created for military officials involved in the barbaric attacks against the people leave us no hope that justice will be served to the family of Rebelyn,” said Araullo.

Araullo added that a separate investigation by independent human rights groups and peace advocates must also be encouraged. “These moves will help create a conducive atmosphere to determine who are responsible for the gross violation Rebelyn’s human rights,” she said.

“Our only hope is to remain vigilant and assertive of our human rights,” Araullo said. (Bulatlat.com)