Agpawa was arrested one year after the killing and Bonifacio Chumacog arrested in 2003. Chumacog was convicted afterwards on June 29, 2004 for Batan’ murder and is now at the National Bilibid Penitentiary in Muntinlupa.

In January 17 this year, the PNP reported to RTC Branch 59 based in this city that Panyong Rongan surrendered to the PNP in Sadanga. He is now jailed at the Baguio City Jail, arraigned and pleaded not guilty on March 24, a Nordis source said.

In the first week of March this year, RTC Branch 59 issued another alias warrant of arrest for Mateo Fanao aka Mathew B. Fanao and his remaining co-accused Kengeb Fayno who is at large. The warrant amended the earlier warrant as accused Fayno has been using the first name Mathew in local government transactions including during elections. The amendment was filed at the City Prosecutor’s Office in October last year based on the affidavits of witnesses, Nordis learned.

RTC Branch 59 issued the warrant during the first week of March and sent it to the PNP station command in Sadanga, Cordillera Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG-CAR), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the PNP Regional Mobile Group to effect the arrest of Fanao and Fayno.

Government action

Nordis through SMS message contacted PNP CAR General Eugene Martin to know the developments in the enforcement of the warrant.

In his text, Martin claimed that he is still verifying the developments regarding the case.

Batan’s tribes mate, friends, and human right workers joined the call to government agencies to arrest Fanao and Fayno.

“Like those who had been supporting Cris case, we call for the immediate arrest of the accused who are at-large,” Cris’ tribe mate said.

Chris was 25 years old when he was murdered by the five CAFGUs in 1993. He was a provincial staff of the Tasked Force Detainees of the Philippines and an active member of human rights group in the province upon his death. Northern Dispatch/(Bulatlat.com)

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