Karapatan Slams Military’s Arrogance, Above-the-Law Posturing
Press Release
May 22, 2009
Karapatan slams military’s arrogance, above the law posturing
Karapatan slammed today the military’s arrogant posturing during the hearing set by the Commission on Human Rights. The military’s intelligence officials refused to face the CHR panel and instead sent their lawyers who also claimed that Sgt. Helvin Bitang, one of the suspects to the Rebelyn Pitao’s extra-judicial killing last March, is the only one connected with the army and was not available during the hearing due to personal reasons.
”The military has exhibited their ”above the law” stance and has issued more propesterous claims to save their face amid the uproar and damning evidence that their intelligence men were responsible for Rebelyn’s brutal murder,” Kelly Delgado said.
He added that ”Bitang is in hiding and the military is engaged in a massive cover-up to protect their most trusted killers. We were informed by our sources that Bitang was seen in Panabo three days ago. So it is not true that he is out of town.”
Karapatan also assailed the Task Force Rebelyn for ”holding on to its wild and imaginative theories while pointedly ignoring the investigation of its own colleagues in the military.”
Delgado hailed the CHR for planning to write to the military’s chief of staff regarding the military’s noncooperation in the investigation.
After the CHR hearing held at the Insular hotel yesterday, Karapatan met with CHR Commissioners Leila de Lima, Jose Manuel Mamauag, Ma. Victoria Cardona and CHR regional chair Atty. Alberto Sipaco in a separate meeting. Karapatan and the Exodus for Justice and Peace presented the findings of the International Solidarity Mission which corroborate the police authorities’ inutile handling of the Rebelyn case.
Other victims present in the dialog with Karapatan include Meriro Poquita, Chairperson of the Concern Citizen for Peoples Rights in New Bataan, Lisa Alo, Compostela union president who survived a slay attempt last week, Cerela Anding regarding their experiences with WIPER, a military-backed anti-union movement in Compostela, and Nardo Balite a Lumad who reported on the massive evacuation and other human rights violations in Talingod.
Karapatan also submitted the CD containing the military’s order of battle of leaders of militant groups and personalities, as exposed by Rep. Satur Ocampo last Monday.
In response, CHR officials promised to send a quick reaction team to Talaingod to verify the reports of evacuation. They also said they will summon the military to answer the accusations contained in the ISM report and the OB list.###
For reference:
Kelly M. Delgado
Mobile # 0920-350-0069
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