ILOILO City – The Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (MOLEO) has ordered several Antique police and military officers to file counter-affidavits to the criminal and administrative complaints lodged against them over the death of seven persons in Barangay Atabay, San Jose, Antique on Aug. 15, 2018.
The seven persons’ next-of-kin filed complaints for murder and war crimes under Republic Act 9851 (Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity) after autopsy examinations conducted by the Commission on Human Rights’ Forensic Center revealed that at least four of them suffered physical injuries unrelated to gunshot wounds.
The respondents were the following:
* Police Colonel Leo Irwin Agpangan
* Police Major Francisco Paguia
* Police Lieutenant Colonel Mark Anthony Darroca
* a certain 1st Lieutenant Labrador of the 301st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army
The authorities claimed that the seven persons were New People’s Army rebels and resisted during a midnight joint police-military operation in Barangay Atabay to serve warrants of arrest.
These seven casualties were Felix Salditos, Peter Mecenas, Jayson Talibo, Liezel Bandiola, Jason Sanchez, Eldie Labinghisa, and Karen Ceralvo. Supporters described them as staff of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
According to their families, the nature of the injuries showed these were inflicted while the victims were still alive, thus inconsistent with the narrative offered by the police and military.
The complainants also sought the Ombudsman’s help in securing records and official documents related to the operation to ascertain the identities of all police and military officers and personnel involved.
These records have not been disclosed despite request from the victims’ families, highlighting the lack of transparency surrounding the events of Aug. 15, 2018./PN
