NPA leader tags military intelligence men in daughter's slay

DAVAO CITY , Philippines – New People’s Army (NPA) 1st Pulang Bagani Command leader Leoncio Pitao, alias Commander Parago, has named at least four members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Military Intelligence Group(MIG) as the ones behind the abduction and brutal killing of his 21-year-old daughter Rebelyn last week.

In an interview with dxDC radio network and the local GMA-7 TV station here, Pitao accused military intelligence personnel of abducting his daughter last Wednesday night in Bago Aplaya in this city.

Rebelyn was found dead, floating in a shallow creek the following day at Purok 5, Barangay San Isidro, Carmen, Davao del Norte, 30 kilometers from Davao City.

Her remains bore marks of torture with five stab wounds on her chest, marks of strangulation on her neck and her face bludgeoned. Lacerations were also found in her genitals, indicating that a hard object was inserted.

“They have been tailing my family for a long time already. They have been following the members of my family,” said Pitao, whose brother was also killed last year in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

Pitao named Sgts. Adan Sulao and Ben Tipait of the MIG XI, Cpl. Alvin Bitang of the Military Intelligence Battalion (MIB), and a certain Pedregosa, also an intelligence operative, as being responsible for his daughter’s death.

Sulao and Tipait were reportedly former NPA members who were recruited by the Philippine Army in the 1980s and enlisted with the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP).

The NPA leader vowed to get justice for his daughter.

“Akong ipaniguro nga matagaan ug hustisya ang akong anak (I will make sure that there will be justice for my daughter),” Parago said, adding that the death of Rebelyn pained him as a father.

He also dared the AFP to get or kill him first. “They just have to make sure that they kill me first because I would really go after those who killed my daughter,” he added.

Pitao was behind the 1999 kidnapping of then Brig. Gen. Victor Obillo and Capt. Eduardo Montealto.

He was also behind the abduction of Jose Manero, brother of priest-killer Norberto, in Paquibato District here.

The NPA leader was also behind the 2007 raid on the Davao Penal Colony armory in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte and the attack on several police stations in the area.

Pitao twitted the military’s offer for a safe conduct pass to enable him to attend the wake or burial of his daughter.

“They are just waiting for me to surface for the wake of my daughter, but I am not that dull and crazy to let them get me,” he said.

Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman, said the matter of granting a safe conduct pass for Pitao has not reached his level. He said before granting the NPA leader a safe conduct pass, they have to seek first the approval of higher-ups.

“If a safe conduct pass is issued (for Pitao), we will respect it. We will not arrest him,” Bartolome said.

Col. Rolando Joselito Bautista, spokesman of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, said a full investigation of those implicated by Pitao is ongoing.

Brig. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan, chief of the AFP’s civil relations group, said the military is outraged with what happened to Pitao’s daughter.

“But we take exception to the accusations against the military. This is not the way of the military,” Pangilinan said.

He added that AFP chief of staff Gen. Alexander Yano has instructed all military intelligence units to provide all the necessary information that would help in solving the case.

“We have to conduct deeper investigation because we cannot work simply on the pronouncements of Pitao. That is why we are asking people not to rush into concluding that the military is behind the killing. And if indeed there will be charges against any military personnel, we would be the ones who would press the charges,” Pangilinan said.

Most likely suspect

Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao spokesman Maj. Randolph Cabangbang said he would inform Pitao of the results of the investigation should it be proven that the perpetrators were military officials.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, on the other hand, said he has ordered a full investigation into the brutal murder of Rebelyn Pitao to determine the perpetrators and to clear the military of any involvement in the incident.

In an interview, Teodoro said the parallel investigation is meant to belie allegations that the military is involved in the killing of Pitao.

Teodoro said the military would also cooperate in the ongoing investigation that is being conducted by the police, particularly the special task force that was created to look into the incident.

“If any soldier would be found to be involved, then we will not cover it up and we will not tolerate those who would be found liable,” he said.

The defense chief also said they are not discounting the possibility that some groups who are out to discredit the military could have perpetrated the crime, which he said should be condemned to the highest degree.

Maj. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu, chief of the army’s 10th Infantry Division based in Davao City, said in a separate statement that civilians are not considered targets in the anti-insurgency campaign, in response to allegations that his men had something to do with the brutal killing of the 20-year-old teacher.

“We would like to see the resolution of this incident as soon as possible so that those guilty of committing this barbaric crime will be punished and justice be given to Rebelyn,” said Mapagu.

Bautista, on the other hand, said the military would always be the “usual suspect” considering that the victim is the daughter of a ranking communist leader.

Meanwhile, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan challenged President Arroyo to prove her sincerity in giving justice to Rebelyn, even as Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chair Leila de Lima ordered an “all-out investigation” into the killing.

“Heads should roll in the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), in particular those who must be directly held accountable for the killing of Rebelyn,” said Bayan chair Carol Araullo, reacting to Mrs. Arroyo’s directive to the CHR and Presidential Committee on Human Rights (PCHR) to probe and “act decisively” on the case.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo, on the other hand, assured the public that justice will be served and that there will be no whitewash in the investigation and those responsible for the killing, even if they are soldiers, would be punished.

If there is any violation of the law, then whoever violated it should be held responsible and liable, Fajardo said.

Araullo asked the President to suspend the top leaders of the AFP Eastern Mindanao Command including its commander, Maj. Gen. Armando Cunanan, and Maj. Gen. Mapagu and the officers of the 10th infantry division intelligence group.

At the same time, Araullo encouraged a separate independent investigation on Pitao’s death by human rights and peace advocates.

“These moves will help create the conducive atmosphere to determine those who are responsible for the gross violation of Rebelyn’s human rights,” she said. – With James Mananghaya, Jaime Laude, Katherine Adraneda, Paolo Romero