The military has disarmed three members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit and placed them under restriction, after they were charged for murder and attempted murder, in connection with the death of a civilian and for the injury of eight others in Silay City, Negros Occidental.
Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta, Army 3rd Infantry Division commander, yesterday said they will not tolerate abuses among their members. He also said they are encouraging everybody to provide them information about abuses of military personnel.
Mabanta, however, said they will extend legal services to the accused CAFGU personnel, being members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Named as respondents in the murder and attempted murder complaints lodged at the Silay City Prosecutor’s Office, were Ryan Layo, a former member of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade, and CAFGU members Roderick Amoyan, Francis Almeda and Rene Latorgo.
Investigations of the Silay police showed that the three CAFGU members were identified by the two eyewitnesses through pictures shown to them, and also linked them to the killing of Richard Centina.
Aside from Centina, also killed was Sonny Boy Tongcua, while eight other civilians were injured in the incident, police records show.
Col. Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said he advised the three to submit themselves to the law, and prepare their sworn statements and counter-affidavits.
“Basically, we are not tolerating any wrongdoings,” Lactao said. “But if you are accused of something that you did not commit, the Army will also support you,” he added.
Investigations by the Silay police showed that Layo, who was reportedly armed with a .45 caliber pistol, and accompanied by three others clad in half-camouflage uniforms, with one of them covering his face with a handkerchief, allegedly traded shots with Centina, who also had a .45 caliber pistol, in Hacienda Lapus, Brgy. Kapitan Ramon Silay City on Feb. 18.
Centina died at the Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital in Bacolod City.
Supt. Rosauro Francisco, Silay police chief, said additional cases of murder and frustrated murder will soon be filed against the suspects for the death of Tongcua, and the injuries of eight civilians, respectively.
The Silay police has requested the 303rd IB to subject the firearms of the three militiamen to ballistic examinations, to determine if they had been fired during the incident, that took place at a benefit dance hall, in the hacienda.*GPB
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