This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VII, No. 7, March 18-24, 2007
Kapila Ilubong Ang Patay?
The
seven bodies found in an alleged mass grave in Inopacan, Southern Leyte which
were being presented in the multiple murder case against Bayan Muna
Representative Satur Ocampo, Jose Ma.Sison, Luis Jalandoni, Vicente Ladlad,
Rafael Baylosis, Randal Echanis and several others have already been buried and
used in a case somewhere else. BY
KAREN PAPELLERO CEBU CITY - Sometimes,
there is no rest for the dead beyond the grave. Some can be buried more than
once. The seven bodies found in
an alleged mass grave in Inopacan, Southern Leyte which were being presented in
the multiple murder case against Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo, Jose
Ma.Sison, Luis Jalandoni, Vicente Ladlad, Rafael Baylosis, Randal Echanis and
several others have already been buried and used in a case somewhere else. This disturbing information
was discovered by Karapatan-Central Visayas after they reviewed the case filed
against Rep. Ocampo and others. The military already
announced the discovery of the skeletal remains of Domingo Eras, Leonardo Eras,
Concepcion Aragon, Carlos Tronueva, Juanita Aviola, Gregorio Eras and Paquito
“Tito” Tronueva in Brgy. Monterico, Baybay, Leyte last June 27, 2000.
These were used as
evidences in a multiple murder case filed against suspected New People’s Army (NPA)
members and leaders in Baybay town in an alleged “purge” in 1985. Recycling: the name of
the game The presence of the alleged
mass grave in Baybay town was further substantiated by the statements of
Zacarias Piedad Sr., a confessed former member of the NPA, who was then the sole
witness presented by the prosecution in July 2000. He claimed to have known a
certain Jaime Soledad and Antonieta Pegoria and identifed them as the NPA
leaders who allegedly ordered the mass killings in Brgy. Monterico. He also
claimed to have heard them issue out the orders. During cross-examination,
he was able to accurately identify the bodies, 15 years after the alleged
killings in 1985. However, Piedad recanted
his statements and issued an Affidavit of Desistance in March 2003 while he was
in the provincial jail. He executed his affidavit in front of representatives of
Karapatan- Central Visayas and a lawyer. In the said affidavit, he
stated that he did not know Pegoria before and only met her while they were in
jail. He further declared that he has not seen any killings anytime in his life,
much less in Brgy. Monterico and that his former statements in 2000 were made
while he was in the custody of the military in Sogod, Southern Leyte. Piedad, however, surfaced
once again as a witness. This time in the new case filed against the Bayan Muna
representative and other personalities. He again issued an affidavit last
September 14, 2006, implicating them in the killings in Inopacan, Southern Leyte. A malicious pattern? Dennis Abarientos,
Secretary General of KARAPATAN-Central Visayas, further revealed that the Asst.
Provincial Prosecutor, Rosulo U. Vivero, the one who handled the 2000 case in
Baybay is the same fiscal who filed the multiple murder case against Satur
Ocampo and others last February 28, 2007, in Hilongos, So.Leyte. “Vivero purposely and even,
personally, filed the case in Hilongos. What’s he doing filing a case there when
that is not his assignment. Why didn’t he file it in Baybay which is so much
closer to Inopacan? Is he afraid Baybay Judge Fulache would again dismiss his
case?” he asked. “They are recycling
everything and everyone. Vivero allowed his misplaced personal crusade to
interfere in the dispensation of justice,” Abarientos stated. Noemi Truya, the counsel
who handled the 2000 case, also doubts the motive behind Vivero’s recent
actions. “Prosecutor Vivero did a
sloppy job in this grand conspiracy to implicate Satur and company. How could he
forget that he already filed a case for multiple murder for the skeletons found
in Brgy. Monterico, Baybay and now he is filing another case for the same
skeletons allegedly dug in Inopacan?” she exclaimed. “Definitely, it is not an
innocent mistake. It is malicious prosecution. He should be held accountable for
the needless anxiety and incarcerationn of those he persecuted,” Truya declared. “Para niya ug sa mga
militar, kapila gyud di-ay ilubong ang patay?”
she asked. (According to him and the military, how many times will you have to
bury the dead?) Bulatlat
© 2007 Bulatlat
■
Alipato Publications Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.
(How Often
will You Bury the Dead?)
Bulatlat