AJLPP Update

March 11, 2009

Military intelligence Agents tagged in teacher’s slay



DAVAO CITY – The leader of the NPA in Mindanao has accused four agents of the Military Intelligence Group (MIG) of the armed forces’ Eastern Mindanao Command of perpetrating the torture and murder of his daughter.

Leoncio Pitao, alias Commander Parago of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Southern Mindanao, said his daughter, Rebelyn, 20 and an elementary school teacher, was abducted, tortured and murdered by the four MIG agents.

Pitao identified the four in an interview in his hideout somewhere in Paquibato District as Ben Tipait, Aldan Sulao, Helvin Bitang and Pedring Pedregosa.

Police have included the four in the list of those who will be investigated in connection with Rebelyn’s murder. Authorities have formed Task Group Rebelyn to investigate but it has yet to gather evidence against any suspect.

AFP Agents indeed

Maj. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao Command, confirmed that the four were MIG agents.

“Although there is no evidence that will pin down the four, we are asking them to show up ... because the more they shy away from the investigation, the more the public will think that they, indeed, were involved,” said Manalang.

Interviewed by a radio station here, Tipait quickly denied the allegation. He said he has been in Manila since January.

Pitao, however, said he believes that Tipait and his group were behind the killing of his daughter. He said it was Tipait and his group who constantly tailed and conducted surveillance operations on his family, including his brother Danilo who was shot dead in June last year in Tagum City. It was also the MIG, he said, that was behind the foiled attack on his son, Ryan, two years ago.

NPA Promises punishment

Pitao said the NPA’s revolutionary court would soon punish the four MIG agents.

Evangeline, Pitao’s wife, also expressed fear of a whitewash if the case is left in the hands of government agencies like the police.

Evangeline earlier said the family believes that authorities will simply find a scapegoat, “such as a common drug addict or rapist ... to cover up the case, pacify our outrage and impede justice.”

“How can we expect justice from an investigative body that cannot investigate itself?” she said.

“Let us see each other soon ... you have sinned against the people’s revolution and you must pay,” Pitao said, addressing Tipait and his group.

He also dared the Eastern Mindanao Command to send the MIG agents to the mountains so that “we will see each other here.”

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said he understood how the NPA leader feels, being a father himself. Pitao and Duterte are friends.

“Two witnesses have given police statements and one helped a police artist draw a sketch of a perpetrator.