The Commission on Human Rights has opened a fact-finding investigation on the death of Cebuana Nursing graduate Rachelle Mae Palang whom authorities said is a member of the New People’s Army.
Palang was killed during an encounter between the rebels and the military in Negros Oriental last week but CHR regional director Alejandro Alonso said possible violation of human rights cannot be discounted in view of claims that Palang was not armed at that time and that she was in the area for a medical mission.
The encounter also left two other alleged members of the NPA dead, identified as platoon leader Bernardo “Edong” Villalongha, of Katigbi-an, Sevilla, Bohol, and Jerry Cabungcag, of sitio Mabuhay, barangay Luz, Cebu City.
Last Monday, Board Member Victor Maambong passed a resolution asking CHR to intervene. CHR investigator Primo Cadampog said Alonso has directed investigator Jesus Cañete who is based in Negros Oriental to immediately start the investigation.
Cañete is expected to gather documentary evidence and statements of possible witnesses from barangay Maluncay, Dauin, where the 45-minute encounter happened.
Should there be evidence of human rights violations, Cadampog said the military will be made to comment before the CHR’s legal division evaluates the data to determine whether or not charges would be filed against the military.
Military officials said high-caliber firearms were recovered near the dead bodies, which bolstered their belief that Palang and her companions are NPA combatants.
Lt. Gen. Pedro Ike Inserto of the Central Command said the military will face any investigation, saying a probe will even unmask the recruitment activities of the rebels among students.
“We welcome any investigation bisan sa Vatican pa na. Ang sa’kin na lang, kung naay investigation, ang family ready na ba?” Inserto said.
He insisted that Palang was part of the rebel group.
“There’s no doubt regular NPA member na siya of the regular NPA group at meron talagang nangyaring encounter. Nagkataon lang na nasa advantage position ang troops namin. Alangan namang hintayin mo pa ang kalaban na unang tirahan ka? NPA is the number one threat to national security,” Inserto said.
He said that while the military are not obliged to recover the bodies of their enemies, they opted to do so after the encounter to give the bodies a descent burial.
Meanwhile, all police stations in Cebu province have been on full alert since 6 a.m. last Monday.
Cebu Provincial Police Office director Carmelo Valmoria said he ordered the alert status especially in police stations along the coastal barangays of Cebu that face Negros Oriental owing to reports that a number of wounded rebels have sought refuge in the western town of Aloguinsan.
“Malalim ang foothold ng CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army) sa Aloguinsan,” said Inserto.
Valmoria, however, said they have not received such reports by far but admitted some areas in Aloguinsan are indeed occupied by rebels. – Fred P. Languido and Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/JMO