Fugitive Militiaman Nabbed After 10 Years

A paramilitary man accused in the killing of a human rights worker in Mt. Province in 1993 was arrested by Bontoc police early November, ending his life as a fugitive.

By Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat.com

BONTOC, Mountain Province – One of the accused in the killing of a human rights worker was arrested early November by the police in an alleged gambling establishment in this capital town ending his more than 10 years of fugitive life.

Arrested based on a warrant is Bonifacio Chumacog a.k.a. Bonifacio Tacio, one of those charged with the killing og Task Force Detainees Philippines (TFDP) staff Christopher Batan on Feb. 23, 1993.

At the time he was shot dead Batan was on a mission to do a documentation of victims of Martial Law in Mountain Province. He and his former colleagues, Fr. Eduardo Solang, now a Provincial Board Member of Mountain Province, and Mila Fanaang, had just crossed the Chico River and were entering Betwagan, Sadanga of this province.

A team of Citizens Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) paramilitary men indiscriminately fired at the trio, hitting Christopher . He died instantly.

Record of the case showed that Agpawan was arrested on the same year the incident happened and was convicted for murder in 1995 by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 59 Judge Abraham Boreta in Baguio City where the case was transferred from Bontoc. The Supreme Court approved the transfer of venue upon the petition of the Batan family to avoid miscarriage of justice.

Chumacog, on the other hand, had been at-large since the 1993 incident. He could not be tried in absentia for the simple reason that he was not arraigned. The 1987 Constitution provides that an accused may be tried in absentia after he has been arraigned, Batan’s lawyer explained to NORDIS in an interview.

Since Chumacog has been arrested, the court will start to hear the case to determine the participation and appropriate penalty it will impose against the accused if found guilty, the lawyer added.

Sources said the arrest was realized with the help of the CIDG-CAR in coordination with the PNP in Bontoc.

With his relatives vigilantly joining the arresting PNP, they ensured the arrest be done and transported the accused in the morning of the next day to Baguio City. Chumacog is now detained at the Baguio City jail.

According to other sources who requested not to be identified, Chumacog had been enjoying protection from a military official, which ensured the non-arrest of the accused for more than 10 years. In fact, he had been working for almost a year in the alleged gambling establishment.

Cirilo Batan and his kin will talk with human rights lawyers who may assist in the prosecution of the case. NORDIS learned that the lawyers who handled the Batan case are Jose Mencio Molintas, Ariel Ingalla and other human rights advocates.

A hearing has not yet been scheduled as of press time. Arthur L. Allad-iw for NORDIS / Posted by Bulatlat.com

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