ILOILO City – Militant group Karapatan-Panay will request the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate the arrest of three suspected rebels after a clash between the government troops and the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Mulangan, Igbaras, Iloilo last week.
Reylan Vergara of Karapatan-Panay said the three arrested individuals were just farmers and not members of the NPA.
“They are innocent farmers and they are not rebels as what the Army claimed,” Vergara said.
Members of the Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion (IB) clashed against NPA’s Southern Front Committee in Panay around 6 a.m. on March 17.
After the encounter, the 48-year-old Ramon “Toto” Elamparo, 50-year-old Roberto “Nono” Elbao and 50-year-old Ruperto “Bebot” Elamparo were brought to the Igbaras police station.
Nine explosives were recovered from their houses, police said.
Lieutenant Colonel Sisenando Magbalot, commanding officer of the 61st IB, said they received a report that 10 armed men went to Elamparos’ house moments before the Army arrived in the village.
Magbalot said he is open to any investigation over the Igbaras encounter, adding that people in the village will serve as their witnesses./PN
