By SAMMY JULIAN
Manila News Bureau Chief
MANILA – An international human rights watchdog bewailed the failure of Philippine authorities to arrest the security guard who allegedly shot dead a farmer four months ago in Porac, Pampanga.
According to the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), the victim, 34-year old Arman Padino, was with other farmers harvesting crops on a disputed land they were cultivating when they were prevented entry and shot at by the security guards of the landlord on January 12.
The Hong Kong-based human rights organization said Padino was killed instantly after he was shot in the head by Felizardo Clark, head of the “roving guards.”
Noel Umali, one of Padino’s companion when the shooting occurred, was struck in the buttocks when other guards shot him as he was escaping.
The AHRC said the incident was apparently reported to the Porac police station on the same day. However, the police allegedly neither mentioned the names of the culprits in the police report nor arrested the security guards involved, notably Clark who was identified by the witnesses and other victims as the person who shot Padino in the head.
“It appears that despite having been reported, no investigation was conducted, and the police also did not arrest of the perpetrators soon after it happened despite being identified by witnesses,” the AHRC said.
The AHRC said PO3 Saugo Sab-it, investigator of the case, later explained that the police did not investigate because “the family only reported three days after the incident.”
Reportedly, it was only on May 7 that the police conducted an investigation after the AHRC sent appeal letters./PN
