AFP says latest killing in Mis. Oriental is part of NPA purging

By Ronron
March 13, 2007

Denying any responsibility for the killing of a lady militant-farmer last Saturday in Misamis Oriental province, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday blamed instead the New People’s Army (NPA).

AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said Cichi Gandinao, 56, was already cooperating with the government at the time she was killed, thus her death could only benefit those against such allegiance.

“This is part of their purging. Who else is to gain from all of these (killings?),” Bacarro told Camp Aguialdo reporters.

“Ms. Gandinao has been cooperating with the government as she has turned her back against the cause espoused by the CPP/NPA. Groups who have been affected by her cooperation with the government is most likely to be behind the said killing,” he added.

Bayan Muna, which claimed that Gandinao is its member, accused the military of being behind the killing of the victim in Salay town, Misamis Oriental. It pointed out that the shooting site was located near the Philippine Army detachment.

The Philippine National Police, which is investigating the case, refused to say, however, who could be behind the latest killing and its motivation.

“The AFP condemns in the strongest terms the brutal killing of Ms. Cichi Gandinao. Based on our initial inquiry, no member of the AFP is involved in the said killing. The AFP is not involved in the said killing as maliciously calmed by some groups,” Bacarro said.

A detachment of the Bravo Company of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion is located near the place of incident.

Nonetheless, Bacarro said “the AFP will cooperate with the (PNP) and any investigative body that would look into the said incident.”

The PNP Task Force USIG has taken cognizance of the Gandinao killing especially that it came about a month after her uncle-in-law, Dalmacio Gandinao, provincial coordinator of Bayan Muna in Misamis Oriental, was also gunned down in the same town, and the case is yet to be resolved.

In a related development, former TF USIG commander Deputy Director General Avelino Razon, Jr., Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Director Edgardo Doromal, Lt. Col. Benedicto Jose of the AFP Human Rights Office, and Col. Gaudencio Pangilinan, deputy of the AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, are off to the US to speak at the US Senate inquiry on the political killings in the Philippines.

Razon said the party will be there for a week, starting Wednesday.

Razon said the US inquiry is a welcome opportunity for the Philippine government where they could present the real situation in the Philippines.

He said the Task Force has only recorded 115 cases of militant killings and 26 journalist killings, as against Karapatan’s 853 figure.

Of 115 political killing cases, 46 were already filed in court while the remaining 69 are still under investigation. Of the journalist killing cases, 21 were also filed already in court while the five remain under investigation./DMS