The National Union of Philippine Lawyers, the group helping the Morong 43, is joining the legal team seeking justice for Bayan Muna member Benjamen Bayles, who was assassinated in June last year in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima last year assured that government will prosecute the two Philippine Army soldiers apprehended.

Julius Matibag, in house lawyer of NUPL, said they will assist the lawyers of the Bayles’ family to ensure that they attain justice.

Matibag said they consider the Bayles case a breakthrough in the extra-judicial killings in the country as it is the first time that the Armed Forces of the Philippines had admitted that the perpetrators are their bonafide members.

Two motorcycle-riding men shot dead Benjie Bayles, 44, in Himamaylan City on June 14. Two suspects on a motorcycle apprehended at a police checkpoint in nearby Kabankalan City later that day, were found to be members of the Army.

Lt. Col. Ricardo Bayhon, 61st Infantry Battalion commander, initially denied that the two who were arrested were members of the Army and false names of the suspects were provided, Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares earlier said.

The gunmen were identified as Roger Bahon, 26, of Brgy. Tiling, Cauayan, and Ronnie Caurino, 24, of Brgy. Cayhagan, Sipalay City, Colemnares said.

But on Oct. 9, Col. Edilberto Suratos, Army Adjutant General, issued a certification  that the who were apprehended were Pfc Rafael Cordova and Pfc Reygine Luas of the 61st Infantry Battalion of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division.

“We want these perpetrators to be held accountable so we can finally end impunity. This shows that those responsible for the killings of human rights defenders come from the AFP,” Matibag said.

He said those who killed Bayles were only commissioned to do the crime, the state should identify the brains behind his assassination.

The next hearing of the case is set on March 23 at the Regional Trial Court of Himamaylan where the prosecution will present their witnesses against Bayles’ assassins.*APN

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