The case of Bayan Muna-Negros member Benjamin Bayles who was killed, allegedly by members of the military in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, four years ago, will be raffled off to another court.

Rod-Cel Gumban, chairman of the Defend Patrimony ecumenical group, said yesterday that this is because Hinigaran Presiding Judge Nilo Sarsaba has inhibited himself from the case.

Gumban said four years have passed since the death of Bayles, but apparently, justice remains elusive for him and his family.

Gumban, a deacon of the Iglesia Flipina Independiente, to which Bayles belonged, added that there seem to be deliberate move to conceal the truth behind the killing.

He noted that in one of the hearings, Judge Sarsaba asked both the Hinigaran and Kabankalan police, the first responders to the incident, to present the logbooks containing the incident report of the Bayles killing.

However, one of the logbooks is missing while the page where the killing was recorded had been torn off from the other one.

“Although justice (for Bayles’ death) appears to be hazy, our hope is still there”, Gumban said.

Two motorcycle-riding men shot Bayles, 44, in Himamaylan City on June 14, 2010. 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.

The accused identified as Private First Class Rafael Cordova, whose pseudonym is Roger Bajon, and PfC Reygine Laus, alias Ronnie, are allegedly members of the 3rdPlatoon, Bravo Company of 61stInfantry Battalion, formerly based in Sitio Barasbarasan, Brgy. Manlucahoc, Sipalay City.

Edre Olalia, secretary general of National Union of People’s Lawyers, that is assisting the family of Bayles, had said earlier that the biggest question that remains unanswered is the identity of the person behind the assassination of Bayles.*APN

back to top