• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., is unfazed by the investigations being sought on the deaths of the 19 individuals identified as members of the New People’s Army (NPA) during an armed encounter April 19 in Toboso, Negros Occidental.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro has also stood firm behind the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion for doing their job in protecting the people against rebel atrocities.
Brawner, who awarded the Gold Cross and Silver Cross medals to more than 30 soldiers during his visit to the 79IB headquarters in Sagay City May 2, defended the military’s actions and emphasized that government troops were performing their duty.
The AFP chief maintained that all 19 individuals killed in the encounter were armed, pointing to recovered firearms and evidences currently under examination by police forensic units.
“We stand by our findings. The encounter was legitimate and those killed fought back,” Brawner said. “We have proof which will be revealed during the investigation.”
He added that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was “very proud” when he reported the latest accomplishment of the 79IB.
The AFP chief said the President told him through a text message: “Please extend my congratulations to our troops”.
In a video message relayed to the troops and presented by Brawner, Teodoro also expressed full confidence in the professionalism and integrity of the soldiers involved in the operations.
“I have no doubt that you performed your duties with full honesty and professionalism,” Teodoro said, assuring the troops that the government would stand by them.
He emphasized that the operation was intelligence-driven and conducted upon the request of affected communities, adding that authorities would not allow critics to undermine the reputation of soldiers.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has already started an investigation while the House of Representatives is set to conduct its own inquiry, in aid of legislation, to determine what had really transpired.
Among the fatalities were two Americans, two student activists, a teacher, and an alleged community journalist.
Brawner reiterated that the military is open to any investigation by the CHR, Congress, Senate, or the courts, and expressed confidence that the troops acted within the bounds of law and did not abuse their authority.
He urged investigators to focus on addressing the root causes of the conflict, including the recruitment of students and minors, saying the practice has persisted for years and has led to the deaths of many young individuals in armed encounters across the country as well as the financing of insurgent activities. | GB
