AFP chief: Deployment of soldiers in Atimonan done in good faith

MANILA, Philippines - The military leadership yesterday said the deployment of soldiers to support the police team in Atimonan, Quezon that resulted in the killing of 13 men earlier this month was done “in good faith.”

“According to them they went there in good faith. And what happened next is now the subject of investigation,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista said.

Bautista made the statement in reference to the 25 Army Special Forces troops led by Lt. Col. Monico Abang involved in the police operation at a checkpoint in Atimonan last Jan. 6.

Bautista said that based on the statements of the 25 soldiers, they were apparently led to believe that they were supporting a police operation.

Abang himself maintained they were requested to support the policemen led by Superintendent Hansel Marantan to intercept a group of suspected guns-for-hire.

He said he and 24 of his men proceeded to the area in good faith.

The soldiers involved in what the police said was a shootout maintained the first shot came from one of the 13 men in the two-vehicle convoy and they only shot back.– With Sandy Araneta