Lumad funeral kibitzers to sue Karapatan-Caraga

By BEN SERRANO,
Correspondent

TANDAG CITY — Three Philippine Army soldiers who were reportedly mauled and robbed of their belongings in Lianga, Surigao del Sur last September 13 have filed criminal charges, serious physical injuries and robbery against human rights group Karapatan-Caraga secretary general Eliza Rose Pangilinan and her group before Surigao del Sur Provincial Prosecutors’ Office on Friday.

Philippine Army press statement by Captain Joe Patrick Martinez, 4th Infantry Division  spokeperson identified the soldiers who filed the criminal charges as Sgt Lomer Ramoso, Pfc Gregorio Cabason, and Private Reymund Siluterio, who are members of 41st Civil-Military Operations Company headed by Lt. Col. Rey Pasco, Commanding Officer of the 4th Civil Military Operations Battalion.

In their complaint affidavits, the three soldiers claimed they were eating their lunch at a sea food restaurant in Lianga when one member of the Karapatan group shouted “Naa ang mga Magahat diri (The Magahat members are here), as these soldiers were mistakenly identified as members of the Magahati group suspected of killing two lumad leaders and a tribal school director in Sitio Han-ayan, Diatagon, Lianga, Surigaod el Sur last September 1, 2015.]

“Karapatan members immediately ran towards the three soldiers and beaten them badly. Other Karapatan members started grabbing their personal belongings such as mobile phones, wallets, watches, necklaces. Responding cops from Lianga Municipal Police Station rescued the soldiers and brought to the police station for safety” the Philippine Army 4th Infantry Division press statement signed by Captain Martinez said.

Medical result showed that Sgt Ramoso suffered multiple abrasions and contusions on his body, Private First Class Cabason also suffered multiple abrasions on his body and contusion on his lower lip, while Army Private Siluterio suffered abrasion on his left hand, the press statement added.

After being hospitalized, they reported the incident to the police and filed severe physical injury and robbery cases against Panganiban and her group before the provincial prosecutor’s office, the statement said.