‘No military death squads in Ilocos’

BAGUIO CITY — Authorities here belied claims that a death squad was behind the shooting of Bayan Ilocos Region chairman Billy Austin on Thursday in Vigan City.

"There is no such thing as a death squad from the military, particularly in my unit,"Army Lt. Col. Harold Cabreros, commanding officer of the 50th Infantry Battalion based in San Juan town, Ilocos Sur, said.

Cabreros’ reaction came in the midst of allegations by Austin’s colleagues at the Ilocos Human Rights Alliance (IHRA) that military agents under the command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are the perpetrators of the crime.

Austin, also a pastor of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), together with two other activists — Lenville Salvador and Avelino Dacanay — were walking along Del Pilar St. in Vigan City Thursday night when motorcycle-riding men shot them, hitting Austin in the legs.

Rod Tajon, speaking for the IHRA, claimed that Austin and other activists were trailed by the assassins while in Vigan City for a seminar.

Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil, Ilocos police director, gave assurances that there will be a thorough investigation on the case. — Artemio Dumlao, Jun Elias