‘We’re fully cooperating with DOJ investigators’

The Army’s 204th Infantry Brigade allayed yesterday fears of a cover-up in the probe on the abduction-killings of two human rights activists in Oriental Mindoro.

In a phone interview, Col. Juanito Gomez, acting commander of the 204th IB, said they are fully cooperating with the Department of Justice (DOJ) task force, headed by Justice Undersecretary Jose Calida.

He was reacting to Calida’s warning the other day that military and government officials in Oriental Mindoro who refuse to cooperate in their investigation into the murders of Eden Marcellana and Eddie Gumanoy, face charges of obstruction of justice.

Contrary to reports, Gomez said they have already submitted to the DOJ task force the names of two soldiers who responded to an incident in Barangay Tambong, Gloria, Oriental Mindoro on April 20.

He said the soldiers went to the barangay after receiving reports about the presence of armed men there, and that they did not harass nor beat up any residents.

He added that local policemen were already in the scene when the two soldiers arrived.

"We have submitted the names of those who responded and we are cooperating with the investigation. I do not know why the DOJ is still threatening to file obstruction of justice charges against us," Gomez said.

The DOJ task force believes that those who killed Marcellana and Gumanoy were the same people who harassed residents of Barangay Tambong last April 20.

Calida has instructed the 204th IB to submit to the task force the names of soldiers "involved" in the Barangay Tambong incident as well as the types and serial numbers of firearms issued to them.

Marcellana and Gumanoy were part of a fact-finding team who went to Gloria town to investigate alleged human rights violations committed by the military there.

On April 22, their bodies were found in a bamboo grove a few meters away from the highway in Bansud town.

The group was aboard a rented van when ski mask-wearing men who introduced themselves as members of the anti-communist group Alsa Masa, flagged them down and abducted Marcella and Gumanoy and three companions.

Following the incident, Armed Forces chief Gen. Narciso Abaya ordered the relief of Col. Jovito Palparan, the 204th IB commander.

Palparan was temporarily detailed at the office of Maj. Gen. Efren Abu, commanding general of the 2nd Infantry Division, which has supervision over the 204th IB.