Supporting the plea for justice by the victim’s kin, an Assistant City Prosecutor objected to the Board of Pardons and Parole’s (BPP) consideration to propose executive clemency for one of the convicted killers of human rights worker Christopher L. Batan.
BY ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat
BAGUIO CITY (246 kms north of Manila) – Supporting the plea for justice by the victim’s kin, an Assistant City Prosecutor objected to the Board of Pardons and Parole’s (BPP) consideration to propose executive clemency for one of the convicted killers of human rights worker Christopher L. Batan.
Batan, a staff member of the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), was killed by five Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) members 16 years ago in Betwagan, Sadanga, Mountain Province.
Assistant City Prosecutor Ruth P. Bernabe manifested her strong objection to the application for executive clemency in favor of prisoner Agustin Tad-ao Agpawan who was convicted of murder for the death of Batan. She said Agpawan has yet to fulfill his civil liability to the victim’s family.
Two of Agpawan’s companions are in jail. Bonifacio Chumacog, who was also convicted a year after his arrest in 2003, is now at the National Bilibid Prison (NBP), while Panyong Rongan is detained at this city’s jail and has a pending petition for bail. At large are accused Kengeb Fayno, Jr., and Mateo or Mathew Fanao, who is the barangay (village) captain of Betwagan and vice president of Mountain Province’s Association of Barangay Chairmen.
As for Rongan’s petition for bail, Bernabe said, “The prosecution is still in its presentation of evidence with regards his petition for bail to prove that the evidence against him is strong and warrant of arrest for the at large accused.”
Sent last week, the prosecution’s letter was an answer to BPP Chief Parole Officer Atty. Ernesto Dizon’s letter, which requested them to comment on their consideration for Agpawan’s executive clemency.
Dangerous prisoner
A brother of Chris also wrote Dizon and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to express his opposition to Agpawan’s executive clemency.
Cirilo Batan said that Agpawan is a great threat once released as he will retaliate against their family, relatives and their witnesses.
He said that when the case was being heard in Bontoc, Mountain Province, Agpawan threatened that he would execute any person who would stand as witness against him.
The case was transferred to this city as the witnesses feared for their lives, he added.
He feared that once released, Agpawan may force his at-large companions who are all members of the CAFGU, a paramilitary group, to inflict harm to Batan’s family, relatives and tribe.
Chris brother pointed out that Agpawan has not shown any remorse for his crime.
“To date, he never expressed any apology for the dastardly crime he committed despite his admission that he shot my brother. Up to the present, we are still waiting for him to apologize, not to mention he is yet to pay the civil indemnities imposed upon him,” Cirilo said.
On Feb. 23, 1993, Christopher Batan, Anglican Priest Eduardo Solang, and Mila Fanaang were on their way to Betwagan to document human rights violations perpetrated there during the Marcos administration. They were fired upon by the accused, all CAFGU members, and Chris was killed. The testimonies of the two survivors-turned-witnesses led to the convictions of Agpawan and Chumacog. (Northern Dispatch / Posted by Bulatlat)
