By Edu Punay (The Philippine Star) Updated January 26, 2011 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The family of noted botanist Leonard Co yesterday filed murder charges against officers and members of the Army’s 19th Infantry Battalion with the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the killing of Co and two guides during crossfire between government and New People’s Army (NPA) forces in Leyte last November.
In a five-page complaint, Co’s wife Glenda and parents Lian Sing and Emelina Co alleged that the Army men premeditatedly shot Co and his guides Sofronio Cortez and Julius Borromeo.
Named respondents in the complaint were 1Lt. Ronald Odchimar, 2Lt. Cameron Perez, Cpl. Marlon Mores, Pfcs. Albert Belonte, Michael Babon, Elemer Forteza, Roger Fabillar, Gil Guimerey, Alex Apostol and WIlliam Bulic, and 28 other 19th IB men who were still unidentified.
This, as Justice Secretary Leila de Lima stood by the report of a DOJ fact-finding panel, which concluded that the military men were not responsible for the deaths of Co and his guides during the crossfire since it said the fatal bullets came from the lines of the NPA rebels.
Co’s family protested the DOJ report and instead filed the criminal complaint for a formal preliminary investigation.
Citing affidavits of survivors Policarpio Balute and Ronino Gibe, they alleged that Army’s gunfire was “specifically directed only at Co, Borromeo, Cortez and their companions.”
“As narrated by both Gibe and Balute, they were gathered around and inspecting a tree when they were suddenly fired at, from the back, completely taking them by surprise,” the complaint stated.
Co’s family said the accounts of both witnesses were consistent with the forensic findings of Dr. Raquel Fortun.
Lawyer Evalyn Ursua, legal counsel of Co’s family, said a scrutiny of the soldiers’ affidavits would show that they did not have personal knowledge of the supposed presence of communist rebels.
De Lima said the complaint just provided an avenue for Co’s family to contest the findings of the DOJ fact-finding panel.
“It is incumbent upon me to support at this point the findings of the panel – unless there’s showing of misappreciation of evidence or erroneous results,” she said.
She said she would also closely monitor the probe being conducted by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
She said a preliminary investigation into the murder charges “effectively” has more weight than the DOJ panel’s fact-finding.
“In the preliminary investigation, the evidentiary rules will apply. The ultimate goal is to determine probable cause whether the respondents can be indicted. This is a different proceeding; it’s more formal and it will be done by a different panel,” she said.
De Lima vowed that the DOJ would be impartial in the preliminary investigation.
Col. Domingo Tutaan Jr., chief of the Armed Forces’ Human Rights Office, said soldiers involved in the Leyte clash were ordered to attend the CHR inquiry in Tacloban City starting today.
Lt. Gen. Ralph Villanueva, chief of the Armed Forces’ Central Command, said they are ready to “answer any complaint in the proper venue.”
In light of the conflicting reports, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has called for a congressional probe on the death of Co and his guides.
– With Alexis Romero and Paolo Romero
Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Murder charges filed vs soldiers in Co slay
Posted on January 25, 2011 10:31:24 PM
Business World
THE PARENTS and widow of slain botanist Leonardo F. Co have filed murder charges against 38 members of the 19th Infantry Battalion (IB) whom they believed were liable for the death of Mr. Co.
"[W]e have basis to believe that no encounter occurred between the 19th IB and the communist terrorists when Co, Borromeo, and Cortez were killed and that they were in fact murdered by elements of the 19th IB of the Philippine Army," Mr. Co’s father, Lian Sing Co, mother Emelina L. Co and wife Glenda F. Co said in their complaint affidavit filed yesterday.
This, despite a Department of Justice (DoJ) fact-finding panel’s conclusion that Mr. Co, forest guard Sofronio G. Cortez and guide Julio L. Borromeo were killed by communists.
The petitioners added that the affidavits of soldiers who were in the encounter indicated that most of them did not see communists in the scene.
"Of the eight members of the squad who admittedly opened fire, only two claimed to have personally seen the supposed armed communist terrorists, three in all," the complaint-affidavit stated.
"It is our understanding that these hearsay and unreliable statements about the supposed presence of three armed communist terrorists cannot give credence to the claim that Co, Borromeo and Cortez were killed in the crossfire between government soldiers and communist terrorists," the complaint-affidavit read.
Further, the three also cited autopsy reports which indicated the victims were fired at from the back, as two survivors of the incident have recalled.
Messrs. Co, Cortez and Borromeo were working for Lopez-led Energy Development Corp. (EDC) in Leyte when they were allegedly caught and killed in a crossfire between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the New People’s Army while inspecting EDC’s property in Kananga, Leyte, on Nov. 15, 2010.
Mr. Co was a consultant of EDC for its reforestation project in Kananga, Leyte, where the company operates power plants.
Mr. Cortez accompanied Mr. Co as EDC’s forest guard, while Mr. Borromeo acted as a guide.
Aside from filing a formal complaint, Evalyn G. Ursua, counsel for the three Cos, has requested Justice Secretary Leila M. de Lima to order the surrender of all firearms used by 38 soldiers involved in the incident for ballistics examination, and the conduct of a second ballistics examination on bullet fragments taken from the victims’ bodies.
Ms. de Lima, who earlier adopted the findings of the fact-finding panel she commissioned, welcomed the filing of charges, which paves the way for a preliminary investigation of the case.
"I will be creating a panel to conduct the preliminary investigation... [which] will be a different panel from the one which submitted its report last week," she said.
However, she said it was still premature to say whether she will reject the recommendations of the panel to charge EDC with reckless imprudence for failing to secure the victims, and to charge the communists supposedly responsible for the attack for murder.
In a statement, EDC corporate communications manager Fernando D. de Rivera denied the allegation.
"EDC continues to be of the firm view that it adhered to its security protocols and coordinated with the military to protect its employees, consultants, and contractors," he said.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will pursue its public inquiry on the incident in Tacloban City.
Paquito M. Nacino, CHR regional director, said CHR Chairperson Loretta Ann P. Rosales arrived inTacloban yesterday for the two-day public inquiry.
He said findings of the DoJ that cleared soldiers have no bearing on their investigation.
"Our own investigation would not be influenced by the decision made by the three-member panel of the DoJ," Mr. Nacino added.
Among those invited to the inquiry was Lt. Col. Federico J. Tutaan, commanding officer of the 19th IB.
Mr. Tutaan earlier said he was willing to face any investigation including the CHR probe. -- Nathaniel R. Melican and Reyan L. Arinto
Business World
THE PARENTS and widow of slain botanist Leonardo F. Co have filed murder charges against 38 members of the 19th Infantry Battalion (IB) whom they believed were liable for the death of Mr. Co.
"[W]e have basis to believe that no encounter occurred between the 19th IB and the communist terrorists when Co, Borromeo, and Cortez were killed and that they were in fact murdered by elements of the 19th IB of the Philippine Army," Mr. Co’s father, Lian Sing Co, mother Emelina L. Co and wife Glenda F. Co said in their complaint affidavit filed yesterday.
This, despite a Department of Justice (DoJ) fact-finding panel’s conclusion that Mr. Co, forest guard Sofronio G. Cortez and guide Julio L. Borromeo were killed by communists.
The petitioners added that the affidavits of soldiers who were in the encounter indicated that most of them did not see communists in the scene.
"Of the eight members of the squad who admittedly opened fire, only two claimed to have personally seen the supposed armed communist terrorists, three in all," the complaint-affidavit stated.
"It is our understanding that these hearsay and unreliable statements about the supposed presence of three armed communist terrorists cannot give credence to the claim that Co, Borromeo and Cortez were killed in the crossfire between government soldiers and communist terrorists," the complaint-affidavit read.
Further, the three also cited autopsy reports which indicated the victims were fired at from the back, as two survivors of the incident have recalled.
Messrs. Co, Cortez and Borromeo were working for Lopez-led Energy Development Corp. (EDC) in Leyte when they were allegedly caught and killed in a crossfire between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the New People’s Army while inspecting EDC’s property in Kananga, Leyte, on Nov. 15, 2010.
Mr. Co was a consultant of EDC for its reforestation project in Kananga, Leyte, where the company operates power plants.
Mr. Cortez accompanied Mr. Co as EDC’s forest guard, while Mr. Borromeo acted as a guide.
Aside from filing a formal complaint, Evalyn G. Ursua, counsel for the three Cos, has requested Justice Secretary Leila M. de Lima to order the surrender of all firearms used by 38 soldiers involved in the incident for ballistics examination, and the conduct of a second ballistics examination on bullet fragments taken from the victims’ bodies.
Ms. de Lima, who earlier adopted the findings of the fact-finding panel she commissioned, welcomed the filing of charges, which paves the way for a preliminary investigation of the case.
"I will be creating a panel to conduct the preliminary investigation... [which] will be a different panel from the one which submitted its report last week," she said.
However, she said it was still premature to say whether she will reject the recommendations of the panel to charge EDC with reckless imprudence for failing to secure the victims, and to charge the communists supposedly responsible for the attack for murder.
In a statement, EDC corporate communications manager Fernando D. de Rivera denied the allegation.
"EDC continues to be of the firm view that it adhered to its security protocols and coordinated with the military to protect its employees, consultants, and contractors," he said.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will pursue its public inquiry on the incident in Tacloban City.
Paquito M. Nacino, CHR regional director, said CHR Chairperson Loretta Ann P. Rosales arrived inTacloban yesterday for the two-day public inquiry.
He said findings of the DoJ that cleared soldiers have no bearing on their investigation.
"Our own investigation would not be influenced by the decision made by the three-member panel of the DoJ," Mr. Nacino added.
Among those invited to the inquiry was Lt. Col. Federico J. Tutaan, commanding officer of the 19th IB.
Mr. Tutaan earlier said he was willing to face any investigation including the CHR probe. -- Nathaniel R. Melican and Reyan L. Arinto
Friday, December 10, 2010
AFP ready to file raps vs soldiers in botanist's death
By Alexis Romero
The Philippine Star
December 10, 2010 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The military yesterday expressed readiness to file charges against soldiers who committed errors that led to the death of a top botanist in Leyte last month.
“We are presently investigating the incident with the possibility of filing administrative charges,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said in a phone interview.
Mabanta said they are willing to cooperate with groups which will file criminal charges against their troops. He gave assurances that they would not tolerate the misdeeds of soldiers found guilty of misdeeds.
“We believe the most important thing is to know the truth. If they (complainants) have something to say, then they have to present evidence so these will hold water in court,” Mabanta said.
Mabanta was asked to react to the findings of Agham, a team of scientists who claimed that there was no crossfire when botanist Leonardo Co and his two companions were slain in Leyte last Nov. 15.
Co, his local guide Julius Borromeo, and forest guard Sofronio Cortez were killed as they were gathering seedlings in a forest in Kanangga, Leyte.
The military claimed the three were killed in crossfire between soldiers of the Army’s 19th Infantry Battalion and communist rebels.
Some sectors, however, suspect that the three were shot after soldiers mistook them for members of the New People’s Army.
Agham said evidence gathered at the site showed that the gunshots came from one direction and that was from the vantage point of where the government troops were positioned.
“The only consistent explanation for these key observations would be that the military was positioned on top of the ridge and firing toward Leonardo Co and company. There was no indication of any crossfire,” Agham chairman Giovanni Tapang said last Wednesday.
Agham’s conclusions contradicted the initial findings of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, which said the rebels scampered toward the location of Co and his companions during the clash.
AFP Central Command spokesman Maj. Christopher Tampos said their soldiers are ready to answer all the allegations against them.
“If the soldiers involved in the operation are accountable, then we will abide by the results of the investigation. If it is necessary to file cases against our soldiers, then our troops are ready to answer the charges,” he said.
Tampos claimed they have evidence that would prove that there was firefight when Co and his companions were killed.
The Philippine Star
December 10, 2010 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The military yesterday expressed readiness to file charges against soldiers who committed errors that led to the death of a top botanist in Leyte last month.
“We are presently investigating the incident with the possibility of filing administrative charges,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said in a phone interview.
Mabanta said they are willing to cooperate with groups which will file criminal charges against their troops. He gave assurances that they would not tolerate the misdeeds of soldiers found guilty of misdeeds.
“We believe the most important thing is to know the truth. If they (complainants) have something to say, then they have to present evidence so these will hold water in court,” Mabanta said.
Mabanta was asked to react to the findings of Agham, a team of scientists who claimed that there was no crossfire when botanist Leonardo Co and his two companions were slain in Leyte last Nov. 15.
Co, his local guide Julius Borromeo, and forest guard Sofronio Cortez were killed as they were gathering seedlings in a forest in Kanangga, Leyte.
The military claimed the three were killed in crossfire between soldiers of the Army’s 19th Infantry Battalion and communist rebels.
Some sectors, however, suspect that the three were shot after soldiers mistook them for members of the New People’s Army.
Agham said evidence gathered at the site showed that the gunshots came from one direction and that was from the vantage point of where the government troops were positioned.
“The only consistent explanation for these key observations would be that the military was positioned on top of the ridge and firing toward Leonardo Co and company. There was no indication of any crossfire,” Agham chairman Giovanni Tapang said last Wednesday.
Agham’s conclusions contradicted the initial findings of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, which said the rebels scampered toward the location of Co and his companions during the clash.
AFP Central Command spokesman Maj. Christopher Tampos said their soldiers are ready to answer all the allegations against them.
“If the soldiers involved in the operation are accountable, then we will abide by the results of the investigation. If it is necessary to file cases against our soldiers, then our troops are ready to answer the charges,” he said.
Tampos claimed they have evidence that would prove that there was firefight when Co and his companions were killed.
Whitewash in The Investigation On The Deaths of Co, Cortez, and Borromeo Feared
Bulatlat.com
Published on December 10, 2010
The physical evidence gathered in the fact finding mission revealed that the trajectories of bullets were coming from and going to only one direction, refuting the military’s claim that there was a supposed gun battle between the military and members of NPA.
KANANGA, Leyte– Leonard Co, Sofronio Cortez and Julio Borromeo were not caught in a gun battle between the New People’s Army (NPA) and the19th Infantry Battalion on that fateful day of Nov. 15. This was the main finding of the independent body that recently conducted a fact finding mission from Nov. 26 to 28 in Kananga, Leyte. The report was presented in a press conference, Dec. 8.
The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
The citizens’ based fact finding mission was led by Agham (Science and Technology for the People), an organization of progressive scientists dedicated to making science serve the people, not the party list group. Scientists, environmentalists, colleagues of Co and cause-oriented groups also joined the fact finding mission.
Based on news reports, Lt. Col. Federico Tutaan, commanding officer of the 19th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army, said the Nov. 15 incident was a legitimate military operation and Co’s team was caught in the crossfire. Two survivors, on the other hand, said no exchange of gunfire happened .
The physical evidence gathered in the fact finding mission revealed that the trajectories of bullets were coming from and going to only one direction, refuting the military’s claim that there was a supposed gun battle between the military and members of NPA.
Survivor’s Account
On Nov. 15, Co together with four other companions resumed their work. Based on the account of officials of the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), at about 9:00 a.m., Co decided to go to W403 pad, which is out of the itinerary. (Click here for complete fact finding report). A pad is a forested area inside the EDC complex where research studies are mostly being conducted.
“But this is not out of the ordinary, according to the EDC,” said Dr. Giovanni Tapang, national chairman of Agham and convener of Justice for Leonard Co Movement, who joined the fact finding mission team. The EDC, said Tapang, was informed of Co’s decision.
W403 pad is where the incident happened. The EDC complex is also where the Leyte Geothermal Facility is operating. In a sworn statement by Ronino Gibe, 24, survivor in the shooting incident, at about 9:00 a.m. their team reached W403 pad. Their team was composed of Co, Cortez, Borromeo, Gibe and another survivor Policarpio Balute.
Gibe said it rained while they were conducting their work. They were surveying the forest, measuring the trees and marking them. Gibe said that at about 10 meters from the parking area (called well pad) of W403, they saw a big tree and it became the starting point of the survey. The big tree or Tree No. 1 (Mayapis tree) was marked with 5-01, three meters away they saw Tree No. 2 (Syzigium tree) and marked it with 5-02. About 59 meters from Tree No. 1 is where they saw Tree No. 3 (Tanguile tree).
In Tree No. 3 they saw a fruit called Talisay-gubat but could not find its mother tree. It continued to rain so Co decided to stop the survey. By then, Balute texted the driver, a certain Romy Momo, to fetch them at the W403 pad. But suddenly, the rain stopped and Co decided to continue working together with the rest of the group. A few steps away, they saw Tree No. 4, which they had a hard time identifying.
“Because the whole group was helping to identify the tree, I noticed that we were all looking up Tree No. 4 to see its leaves,” Gibe said in his statement. He said during that time, Borromeo was standing to his left and Co at his right side. Beside Co was Cortez and at the back of the tree was Balute. “After taking a picture of the tree, I put my cellphone back in my jacket. Just before 12:00 noon, we heard a burst of gunfire coming from behind us…we dived to the ground when we heard the gunfire. Then I heard someone shout, ‘We are not enemies, please stop.’ That voice sounded like Carping’s (Balute).”
According to Gibe, the gunfire lasted about 20 minutes. He crawled and hid in the buttress of a tree near Tree No. 4. When the gunfire stopped, he saw men in military uniform with firearms and ammunition approaching their place. After the gunfire stopped, Borromeo was not moving while Co and Cortez were already dead.
Balute was able to run away from the place of the shooting.
Gibe said if he moved, he could have been hit. “I didn’t have the opportunity to run because I felt that the guns were aimed low because there were bullets hitting the tree where I was hiding. I could see the bark of the trees being sliced by bullets.”
When he saw the soldiers approaching, Gibe went out with his hands up and said, “I am here; They are with me, we are not enemies!”
Then the soldiers told him to step out of hiding and put down his firearm. They asked him where his two companions carrying firearms went. He said he had no firearm nor his companions. He pleaded to the soldiers to bring his wounded companions to the hospital, but he was ignored. Then Gibe was told by the soldier to “lie down and look away.”
Borromeo Still Alive After Shooting
Borromeo was still alive after the shooting, according to Gibe. When he pleaded with the soldiers to bring his companions to the hospital, Gibe said, he was told, “No, your companions would no longer make it to the hospital.” Instead of bringing the wounded to the hospital, Gibe was asked questions such as if they really coordinated with the EDC and what they were doing in the area. He noticed that the soldiers seemed to be discussing what to do. The meeting of the soldiers and the occasional questioning lasted for two hours.
The soldiers told him that they have been in the area observing for 30 minutes when they saw three men with firearms walking in the area where Co’s team was working. The soldiers said they were conducting a military operation in the area and that two of their colleagues were killed. Gibe told the soldiers what they were doing in the area and named his contacts in the EDC. The soldiers replied, “Do not make any noise! You are already safe.”
For two hours, Borromeo was left lying on the ground with a gunshot wound near his heart. Gibe said he could still hear Borromeo moaning and moving. It was only by around 2:00 p.m. when the soldiers administered first aid on Borromeo. Gibe was told to get up and proceed to pad W403. At around 3:00 p.m., Gibe heard from the soldiers that Borromeo was already dead. The bodies of Co and Cortez were also brought down to the pad.
“The failure of the military unit involved to provide immediate medical attention and hospital treatment to Borromeo prolonged his agony and ultimately led to his death. The military waited at least one hour after they approached Gibe before bringing down the bodies and the survivor despite repeated requests from Gibe and Borromeo, who was still alive then,” the team said.
Military’s Defense, Incredible
It was a chance encounter, Tutaan told the fact finding team. Tutaan even claimed that an NPA was wounded in the armed clash. He also told the fact finding team that there was an exchange of gunfire and that the NPA fired first.
Tutaan said that at around 12:30 noon, a unit from the 19th IB led by 1Lt. Ronald Odchimar chanced upon the NPA, and an exchange of gunfire ensued. According to Tutaan, the gun battle lasted for some 10 to 12 minutes.
Tutaan said his unit was concealed and was in a better position. He said his unit was fired at and they only fired back. During the gunfight, Tutaan said, the “enemy” retreated with one of them wounded. It was only after the gunfight, Tutaan claimed, that his unit realized that there were civilians in the area. These civilians were the group of Co.
According to the team’s report “Even supposing that it was the NPA who were on the ridge and the military was positioned at a higher vantage point – which was difficult to reach – to the east, there were no indications of any bullet hitting the higher vantage point from the direction of the ridge.”
The fact finding team measured the distance from the tree where Co and his group were working to the vantage position of the military. It is only about 50 to 60 meters. (Refer to video below.) The distance from the military’s position to the parking area of W403 pad is only 200 meters. Thus, the team concluded, it was impossible for the soldiers not to see and hear Co and his companions.
Tutaan told the fact finding team that his unit’s operation was legitimate because it was authorized by the command of the brigade.
But based on the team’s observations during the site visit, the following were concluded: The direction of the bullet marks on the trees originated from a vantage point on the ridge above Co and his team; the direction of fire was concentrated on the area where Leonard and his four other companions were standing; Tree no.4 was hit three times and the large tree where Gibe hid had six bullet marks.
Tutaan said they received an intelligence report on Nov. 12 that there were sightings of members of the NPA in the general area outside the periphery of the EDC complex. On Nov. 14, Tutaan said, he started to send several units of the Army in search of the NPA. Tutaan said their national mandate is to secure the strategic energy industry. Their area of responsibility, said Tutaan, is outside the periphery of the EDC complex. However, the shooting took place inside the EDC complex.
Tutaan said his unit has been closely coordinating with the EDC for quite some time because the area outside the EDC complex, around 10 to 12 kilometers away, is a known “play ground” of the NPA. Tutaan said they follow a “protocol” with the company. However, Tutaan did not elaborate on the supposed protocol. He also said information about their combat operations are regularly shared with the EDC.
However, Manuel Paete, EDC resident manager, said that on Nov. 15 they did not receive any report from the military nor were they informed that there was an operation by the military.
Mayor Elmer Codilla of Kananga, Leyte also said there were reports that NPA guerrillas are roaming within the vicinity of EDC. Cadilla, however, could not answer how they verified such reports.
But Borromeo’s family, who are residents of barangay (village) Tongonan, Ormoc Leyte, said they are not aware of the presence of the NPA in the area.
The EDC complex is 200 hectares, from Kananga it extends up to Ormoc City comprised of three barangays, according to Codilla. The EDC complex as well as the adjacent barangays are mountainous areas.
Estelita Pañga Bayo, 67, godmother of Borromeo, and Borromeo’s wife refuted Tutaan’s statement that the area near the EDC complex is the “playground” of the NPA. “I have lived here for 67 years. There has not been a single encounter between the NPA and military in this area nor does the NPA operate here. Generally our place is peaceful.” She added that a week before Nov. 15, EDC hired at least 30 workers from Basey, Samar to harvest rattan inside the EDC complex.
Co arrived at the EDC complex on Nov. 9 for the “Taxonomic Identification, Collection, Procurement and Management of Seeds, Wildings and Seedlings and Assistance in Establishment of Partnerships and Mother Trees for the Binhi Tree for the Future” program of the EDC. According to Paete and Ernie Calumpit, head security of the EDC, Co had already visited areas in the complex since Nov. 10. From Nov. 10 to 13, Co had visited and worked in various pads.
Whitewash?
Justice for Leonard Co Movement feared a possible whitewash in the investigation on the deaths of Co, Cortez, and Borromeo. Tapang said a team from the Philippine National Police-Scene of the Crime Operatives (PNP-SOCO) was able to visit the site 20 hours after the incident and no one from the EDC joined the SOCO. It was only on Nov. 17 that the EDC was able to access the site.
“What happened during the 20 hours between the incident and the arrival of the SOCO team?” the team asked. “The military was present at the incident site all the time since the shooting until after they brought down the bodies. The police was also not allowed to go to the site immediately since the military said they were conducting hot pursuit operations. This failure to secure the site early by the police and the EDC is glaring and puts the reports of the SOCO and the military into a questionable position.”
Tapang said the EDC staff also failed to explain why no EDC personnel were present during the SOCO investigation.
Recommendations
The team expressed concerns regarding the safety of the survivors and their families. During the wake of Borromeo, the victim’s family was visited by men asking rudely for the whereabouts of another survivor, Balute. There were also motorcycle-riding men who tailed some of the team members who visited the communities where the families of the victims and survivors lived. The team called on groups and institutions to provide sanctuary for the survivors and their families.
The team recommends the following:
Those who are responsible for the deaths of Co and his companions, from all levels of the military, should be investigated and appropriate charges be filed against them.
The 19th IB should release the names of the members of the squad and platoon, including their commanding officers, involved in the shooting of Co and company. The firearms of these officers and enlisted men should be secured and surrendered to the proper authorities;
The liability of the military personnel who failed to give Borromeo immediate medical attention and bring him to a hospital should also be fully investigated and appropriate charges be filed against them;
The EDC should clarify the protocols for their communications and coordination with the military especially since there are still other activities [similar to what Co's team was doing] which the EDC continues to conduct;
The EDC should also clarify the extent of their work area and when they would be responsible for the security of their own personnel.
The EDC, the 19th IB and the PNP should make accessible all documents that would further shed light on the incident. (Bulatlat.com)
Published on December 10, 2010
The physical evidence gathered in the fact finding mission revealed that the trajectories of bullets were coming from and going to only one direction, refuting the military’s claim that there was a supposed gun battle between the military and members of NPA.
KANANGA, Leyte– Leonard Co, Sofronio Cortez and Julio Borromeo were not caught in a gun battle between the New People’s Army (NPA) and the19th Infantry Battalion on that fateful day of Nov. 15. This was the main finding of the independent body that recently conducted a fact finding mission from Nov. 26 to 28 in Kananga, Leyte. The report was presented in a press conference, Dec. 8.
The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
The citizens’ based fact finding mission was led by Agham (Science and Technology for the People), an organization of progressive scientists dedicated to making science serve the people, not the party list group. Scientists, environmentalists, colleagues of Co and cause-oriented groups also joined the fact finding mission.
Based on news reports, Lt. Col. Federico Tutaan, commanding officer of the 19th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army, said the Nov. 15 incident was a legitimate military operation and Co’s team was caught in the crossfire. Two survivors, on the other hand, said no exchange of gunfire happened .
The physical evidence gathered in the fact finding mission revealed that the trajectories of bullets were coming from and going to only one direction, refuting the military’s claim that there was a supposed gun battle between the military and members of NPA.
Survivor’s Account
On Nov. 15, Co together with four other companions resumed their work. Based on the account of officials of the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), at about 9:00 a.m., Co decided to go to W403 pad, which is out of the itinerary. (Click here for complete fact finding report). A pad is a forested area inside the EDC complex where research studies are mostly being conducted.
“But this is not out of the ordinary, according to the EDC,” said Dr. Giovanni Tapang, national chairman of Agham and convener of Justice for Leonard Co Movement, who joined the fact finding mission team. The EDC, said Tapang, was informed of Co’s decision.
W403 pad is where the incident happened. The EDC complex is also where the Leyte Geothermal Facility is operating. In a sworn statement by Ronino Gibe, 24, survivor in the shooting incident, at about 9:00 a.m. their team reached W403 pad. Their team was composed of Co, Cortez, Borromeo, Gibe and another survivor Policarpio Balute.
Gibe said it rained while they were conducting their work. They were surveying the forest, measuring the trees and marking them. Gibe said that at about 10 meters from the parking area (called well pad) of W403, they saw a big tree and it became the starting point of the survey. The big tree or Tree No. 1 (Mayapis tree) was marked with 5-01, three meters away they saw Tree No. 2 (Syzigium tree) and marked it with 5-02. About 59 meters from Tree No. 1 is where they saw Tree No. 3 (Tanguile tree).
In Tree No. 3 they saw a fruit called Talisay-gubat but could not find its mother tree. It continued to rain so Co decided to stop the survey. By then, Balute texted the driver, a certain Romy Momo, to fetch them at the W403 pad. But suddenly, the rain stopped and Co decided to continue working together with the rest of the group. A few steps away, they saw Tree No. 4, which they had a hard time identifying.
“Because the whole group was helping to identify the tree, I noticed that we were all looking up Tree No. 4 to see its leaves,” Gibe said in his statement. He said during that time, Borromeo was standing to his left and Co at his right side. Beside Co was Cortez and at the back of the tree was Balute. “After taking a picture of the tree, I put my cellphone back in my jacket. Just before 12:00 noon, we heard a burst of gunfire coming from behind us…we dived to the ground when we heard the gunfire. Then I heard someone shout, ‘We are not enemies, please stop.’ That voice sounded like Carping’s (Balute).”
According to Gibe, the gunfire lasted about 20 minutes. He crawled and hid in the buttress of a tree near Tree No. 4. When the gunfire stopped, he saw men in military uniform with firearms and ammunition approaching their place. After the gunfire stopped, Borromeo was not moving while Co and Cortez were already dead.
Balute was able to run away from the place of the shooting.
Gibe said if he moved, he could have been hit. “I didn’t have the opportunity to run because I felt that the guns were aimed low because there were bullets hitting the tree where I was hiding. I could see the bark of the trees being sliced by bullets.”
When he saw the soldiers approaching, Gibe went out with his hands up and said, “I am here; They are with me, we are not enemies!”
Then the soldiers told him to step out of hiding and put down his firearm. They asked him where his two companions carrying firearms went. He said he had no firearm nor his companions. He pleaded to the soldiers to bring his wounded companions to the hospital, but he was ignored. Then Gibe was told by the soldier to “lie down and look away.”
Borromeo Still Alive After Shooting
Borromeo was still alive after the shooting, according to Gibe. When he pleaded with the soldiers to bring his companions to the hospital, Gibe said, he was told, “No, your companions would no longer make it to the hospital.” Instead of bringing the wounded to the hospital, Gibe was asked questions such as if they really coordinated with the EDC and what they were doing in the area. He noticed that the soldiers seemed to be discussing what to do. The meeting of the soldiers and the occasional questioning lasted for two hours.
The soldiers told him that they have been in the area observing for 30 minutes when they saw three men with firearms walking in the area where Co’s team was working. The soldiers said they were conducting a military operation in the area and that two of their colleagues were killed. Gibe told the soldiers what they were doing in the area and named his contacts in the EDC. The soldiers replied, “Do not make any noise! You are already safe.”
For two hours, Borromeo was left lying on the ground with a gunshot wound near his heart. Gibe said he could still hear Borromeo moaning and moving. It was only by around 2:00 p.m. when the soldiers administered first aid on Borromeo. Gibe was told to get up and proceed to pad W403. At around 3:00 p.m., Gibe heard from the soldiers that Borromeo was already dead. The bodies of Co and Cortez were also brought down to the pad.
“The failure of the military unit involved to provide immediate medical attention and hospital treatment to Borromeo prolonged his agony and ultimately led to his death. The military waited at least one hour after they approached Gibe before bringing down the bodies and the survivor despite repeated requests from Gibe and Borromeo, who was still alive then,” the team said.
Military’s Defense, Incredible
It was a chance encounter, Tutaan told the fact finding team. Tutaan even claimed that an NPA was wounded in the armed clash. He also told the fact finding team that there was an exchange of gunfire and that the NPA fired first.
Tutaan said that at around 12:30 noon, a unit from the 19th IB led by 1Lt. Ronald Odchimar chanced upon the NPA, and an exchange of gunfire ensued. According to Tutaan, the gun battle lasted for some 10 to 12 minutes.
Tutaan said his unit was concealed and was in a better position. He said his unit was fired at and they only fired back. During the gunfight, Tutaan said, the “enemy” retreated with one of them wounded. It was only after the gunfight, Tutaan claimed, that his unit realized that there were civilians in the area. These civilians were the group of Co.
According to the team’s report “Even supposing that it was the NPA who were on the ridge and the military was positioned at a higher vantage point – which was difficult to reach – to the east, there were no indications of any bullet hitting the higher vantage point from the direction of the ridge.”
The fact finding team measured the distance from the tree where Co and his group were working to the vantage position of the military. It is only about 50 to 60 meters. (Refer to video below.) The distance from the military’s position to the parking area of W403 pad is only 200 meters. Thus, the team concluded, it was impossible for the soldiers not to see and hear Co and his companions.
Tutaan told the fact finding team that his unit’s operation was legitimate because it was authorized by the command of the brigade.
But based on the team’s observations during the site visit, the following were concluded: The direction of the bullet marks on the trees originated from a vantage point on the ridge above Co and his team; the direction of fire was concentrated on the area where Leonard and his four other companions were standing; Tree no.4 was hit three times and the large tree where Gibe hid had six bullet marks.
Tutaan said they received an intelligence report on Nov. 12 that there were sightings of members of the NPA in the general area outside the periphery of the EDC complex. On Nov. 14, Tutaan said, he started to send several units of the Army in search of the NPA. Tutaan said their national mandate is to secure the strategic energy industry. Their area of responsibility, said Tutaan, is outside the periphery of the EDC complex. However, the shooting took place inside the EDC complex.
Tutaan said his unit has been closely coordinating with the EDC for quite some time because the area outside the EDC complex, around 10 to 12 kilometers away, is a known “play ground” of the NPA. Tutaan said they follow a “protocol” with the company. However, Tutaan did not elaborate on the supposed protocol. He also said information about their combat operations are regularly shared with the EDC.
However, Manuel Paete, EDC resident manager, said that on Nov. 15 they did not receive any report from the military nor were they informed that there was an operation by the military.
Mayor Elmer Codilla of Kananga, Leyte also said there were reports that NPA guerrillas are roaming within the vicinity of EDC. Cadilla, however, could not answer how they verified such reports.
But Borromeo’s family, who are residents of barangay (village) Tongonan, Ormoc Leyte, said they are not aware of the presence of the NPA in the area.
The EDC complex is 200 hectares, from Kananga it extends up to Ormoc City comprised of three barangays, according to Codilla. The EDC complex as well as the adjacent barangays are mountainous areas.
Estelita Pañga Bayo, 67, godmother of Borromeo, and Borromeo’s wife refuted Tutaan’s statement that the area near the EDC complex is the “playground” of the NPA. “I have lived here for 67 years. There has not been a single encounter between the NPA and military in this area nor does the NPA operate here. Generally our place is peaceful.” She added that a week before Nov. 15, EDC hired at least 30 workers from Basey, Samar to harvest rattan inside the EDC complex.
Co arrived at the EDC complex on Nov. 9 for the “Taxonomic Identification, Collection, Procurement and Management of Seeds, Wildings and Seedlings and Assistance in Establishment of Partnerships and Mother Trees for the Binhi Tree for the Future” program of the EDC. According to Paete and Ernie Calumpit, head security of the EDC, Co had already visited areas in the complex since Nov. 10. From Nov. 10 to 13, Co had visited and worked in various pads.
Whitewash?
Justice for Leonard Co Movement feared a possible whitewash in the investigation on the deaths of Co, Cortez, and Borromeo. Tapang said a team from the Philippine National Police-Scene of the Crime Operatives (PNP-SOCO) was able to visit the site 20 hours after the incident and no one from the EDC joined the SOCO. It was only on Nov. 17 that the EDC was able to access the site.
“What happened during the 20 hours between the incident and the arrival of the SOCO team?” the team asked. “The military was present at the incident site all the time since the shooting until after they brought down the bodies. The police was also not allowed to go to the site immediately since the military said they were conducting hot pursuit operations. This failure to secure the site early by the police and the EDC is glaring and puts the reports of the SOCO and the military into a questionable position.”
Tapang said the EDC staff also failed to explain why no EDC personnel were present during the SOCO investigation.
Recommendations
The team expressed concerns regarding the safety of the survivors and their families. During the wake of Borromeo, the victim’s family was visited by men asking rudely for the whereabouts of another survivor, Balute. There were also motorcycle-riding men who tailed some of the team members who visited the communities where the families of the victims and survivors lived. The team called on groups and institutions to provide sanctuary for the survivors and their families.
The team recommends the following:
Those who are responsible for the deaths of Co and his companions, from all levels of the military, should be investigated and appropriate charges be filed against them.
The 19th IB should release the names of the members of the squad and platoon, including their commanding officers, involved in the shooting of Co and company. The firearms of these officers and enlisted men should be secured and surrendered to the proper authorities;
The liability of the military personnel who failed to give Borromeo immediate medical attention and bring him to a hospital should also be fully investigated and appropriate charges be filed against them;
The EDC should clarify the protocols for their communications and coordination with the military especially since there are still other activities [similar to what Co's team was doing] which the EDC continues to conduct;
The EDC should also clarify the extent of their work area and when they would be responsible for the security of their own personnel.
The EDC, the 19th IB and the PNP should make accessible all documents that would further shed light on the incident. (Bulatlat.com)
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Slain botanist’s friends hint military fire caused his death
Malaya
December 9, 2010
A TEAM of scientists, botanists, and environmentalists have found that botanist Leonard Co, forester Sofronio Cortez, and farmer Julius Borromeo were not killed in crossfire.
Dr. Giovanni Tapang, a member of the fact-finding team and chair of AGHAM Advocates of Science and Technology for the People said the team found out that the gunfire was concentrated in the area where Co and his team were.
"Based on the evidence gathered at the site, the bullets only came from uphill and from only one direction," said Tapang.
"There was no indication of any crossfire… There were no bullet marks toward the ridge where the soldiers were positioned," he added.
The military has said the three were killed in the crossfire between troops and New People’s Army rebels on November 15 in Kananga, Leyte. Co’s group was then gathering specimens in a thickly forested area.
Tapang said the team also believed there were no rebels in the area.
"Granting that the military was shooting to their left side (toward the rebels side), why was the bulk of the bullet marks directed to their right (towards Co and company)? There were only a few trees that had bullet markings on the left side from the vantage position of where the military were positioned," Tapang said.
Co was hit by three bullets in the back. He and his team had spent more than a week exploring the geothermal reservation of the Lopez-owned Energy Development Corp., searching for indigenous tree species for a corporate forest restoration project. Two other employees of the company survived.
Tapang said the fact-finding team also found out that the military failed to provide immediate aid to Borromeo, despite repeated requests from one of the survivors.
"This prolonged the suffering of Borromeo, who later died from his wounds," he said.
Tapang urged the military, particularly the 19th Infantry Battalion, to identify the members of the squad and platoon, including their commanding officers.
The Armed Forces maintained the death of Co and his two companions was a result of a firefight between government forces and NPA rebels.
As a tribute to the efforts and life of Leonard Co, the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation has launched a Leonardo Co Forest Research Fund.
A sum of P100,000 every year, for years 2011 to 2016, would be made available to scientists who would want to research on Philippine biodiversity. – Angela Lopez de Leon, Victor Reyes and Raymond Africa
December 9, 2010
A TEAM of scientists, botanists, and environmentalists have found that botanist Leonard Co, forester Sofronio Cortez, and farmer Julius Borromeo were not killed in crossfire.
Dr. Giovanni Tapang, a member of the fact-finding team and chair of AGHAM Advocates of Science and Technology for the People said the team found out that the gunfire was concentrated in the area where Co and his team were.
"Based on the evidence gathered at the site, the bullets only came from uphill and from only one direction," said Tapang.
"There was no indication of any crossfire… There were no bullet marks toward the ridge where the soldiers were positioned," he added.
The military has said the three were killed in the crossfire between troops and New People’s Army rebels on November 15 in Kananga, Leyte. Co’s group was then gathering specimens in a thickly forested area.
Tapang said the team also believed there were no rebels in the area.
"Granting that the military was shooting to their left side (toward the rebels side), why was the bulk of the bullet marks directed to their right (towards Co and company)? There were only a few trees that had bullet markings on the left side from the vantage position of where the military were positioned," Tapang said.
Co was hit by three bullets in the back. He and his team had spent more than a week exploring the geothermal reservation of the Lopez-owned Energy Development Corp., searching for indigenous tree species for a corporate forest restoration project. Two other employees of the company survived.
Tapang said the fact-finding team also found out that the military failed to provide immediate aid to Borromeo, despite repeated requests from one of the survivors.
"This prolonged the suffering of Borromeo, who later died from his wounds," he said.
Tapang urged the military, particularly the 19th Infantry Battalion, to identify the members of the squad and platoon, including their commanding officers.
The Armed Forces maintained the death of Co and his two companions was a result of a firefight between government forces and NPA rebels.
As a tribute to the efforts and life of Leonard Co, the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation has launched a Leonardo Co Forest Research Fund.
A sum of P100,000 every year, for years 2011 to 2016, would be made available to scientists who would want to research on Philippine biodiversity. – Angela Lopez de Leon, Victor Reyes and Raymond Africa
No crossfire in Leyte Botanist, pals were soldiers’ direct targets
MANILA, Philippines—There was no crossfire, and the shots coming from where the soldiers were positioned were trained directly on the area where noted botanist Leonardo Co and his companions were working, leading to their deaths.
This was according to the findings of a team of scientists including Co's co-workers that looked into the killing of the botanist and his companions Sofronio Cortez and Julius Borromeo last month in the forest of Kananga, Leyte.
The fact-finding team's report ran contrary to the earlier statements of the military that the three men were killed in an exchange of gunfire between soldiers and communist rebels. Co, along with four companions, was in the forest working as a consultant for the Lopez-owned EDC Corp.
The team also said the military failed to provide immediate medical aid to Borromeo after the shooting despite the pleas of survivor Ronino Gibe, thus prolonging Borromeo's suffering before expiring.
The team had visited the Kananga forest and had talked to Gibe and the other survivor, Policarpio Balute.
Atop a ridge
Physicist Giovanni Tapang of the group Agham, a member of the fact-finding mission, said the team found that the soldiers had opened fire while on a ridge overlooking the area where Co et al. were working.
Tapang said there had been no return fire, as indicated by the absence of bullet marks on the trees near the ridge.
“The only consistent explanation for these key observations would be that the military was positioned on top of the ridge and firing toward Leonardo Co and company. There was no indication of any crossfire,” Tapang said in a press briefing Wednesday at the University of the Philippines’ Institute of Biology.
He said the bullet marks on the trees that were near Co and his group showed that the gunfire had come from a higher location.
“The direction of fire was mainly concentrated on the area where Leonard Co, Ronino Gibe, Sofronio Cortez, Policarpio Balute, Julius Borromeo were standing,” he said.
The fact-finding team also said the number of bullets that hit Co et al. indicated that they were the actual targets.
The tree nearest them was hit three times; another tree behind which Gibe took cover had six bullet marks.
DOJ, CHR
Anthony Arbias of the Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society, a member of the fact-finding team, said copies of its report would be given to Co's family, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
Co's wife Glenda said the family was grateful to the team for its work. She said the family would await the findings of the DoJ and CHR before taking further action.
Co's brother-in-law Roberto Austria said EDC should disclose its protocol and whether it was required to, and if it actually did, inform the military of Co's presence in the forest.
Karapatan lawyer Kathrina Castillo, also a member of the fact-finding team, said the military men involved in the shooting should be investigated and charged.
Castillo said the 19th Infantry Battalion, which operates in Kananga, should name the soldiers and commanding officers involved. She said the soldiers who failed to help Borromeo should also be held accountable.
Reconstruction
The fact-finding team reconstructed the events of Nov. 15.
It said the shooting began a few minutes before noon, when Co was inspecting a tree and trying to determine its species. Upon hearing the shots, Co and his companions dropped to the ground, with Co shouting: “Maawa kayo, hindi kami kalaban (Have pity, we are not enemies)!”
Survivors Balute and Gibe also pleaded for the shooting to stop. But the gunfire did not waver for 15-20 minutes, they said.
They also said they were sure that the gunmen had heard them because they heard a man remark, in the local tongue, that Co's group had been there all along (“Nandito lang pala kayo”).
At the briefing, Co's family, friends and supporters, and civil society groups also launched the Justice for Leonard Co movement (www.justiceforleonardco.org).
The Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation has also launched a Leonardo Co Forest Research Fund as a tribute to the scientist.
This was according to the findings of a team of scientists including Co's co-workers that looked into the killing of the botanist and his companions Sofronio Cortez and Julius Borromeo last month in the forest of Kananga, Leyte.
The fact-finding team's report ran contrary to the earlier statements of the military that the three men were killed in an exchange of gunfire between soldiers and communist rebels. Co, along with four companions, was in the forest working as a consultant for the Lopez-owned EDC Corp.
The team also said the military failed to provide immediate medical aid to Borromeo after the shooting despite the pleas of survivor Ronino Gibe, thus prolonging Borromeo's suffering before expiring.
The team had visited the Kananga forest and had talked to Gibe and the other survivor, Policarpio Balute.
Atop a ridge
Physicist Giovanni Tapang of the group Agham, a member of the fact-finding mission, said the team found that the soldiers had opened fire while on a ridge overlooking the area where Co et al. were working.
Tapang said there had been no return fire, as indicated by the absence of bullet marks on the trees near the ridge.
“The only consistent explanation for these key observations would be that the military was positioned on top of the ridge and firing toward Leonardo Co and company. There was no indication of any crossfire,” Tapang said in a press briefing Wednesday at the University of the Philippines’ Institute of Biology.
He said the bullet marks on the trees that were near Co and his group showed that the gunfire had come from a higher location.
“The direction of fire was mainly concentrated on the area where Leonard Co, Ronino Gibe, Sofronio Cortez, Policarpio Balute, Julius Borromeo were standing,” he said.
The fact-finding team also said the number of bullets that hit Co et al. indicated that they were the actual targets.
The tree nearest them was hit three times; another tree behind which Gibe took cover had six bullet marks.
DOJ, CHR
Anthony Arbias of the Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society, a member of the fact-finding team, said copies of its report would be given to Co's family, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
Co's wife Glenda said the family was grateful to the team for its work. She said the family would await the findings of the DoJ and CHR before taking further action.
Co's brother-in-law Roberto Austria said EDC should disclose its protocol and whether it was required to, and if it actually did, inform the military of Co's presence in the forest.
Karapatan lawyer Kathrina Castillo, also a member of the fact-finding team, said the military men involved in the shooting should be investigated and charged.
Castillo said the 19th Infantry Battalion, which operates in Kananga, should name the soldiers and commanding officers involved. She said the soldiers who failed to help Borromeo should also be held accountable.
Reconstruction
The fact-finding team reconstructed the events of Nov. 15.
It said the shooting began a few minutes before noon, when Co was inspecting a tree and trying to determine its species. Upon hearing the shots, Co and his companions dropped to the ground, with Co shouting: “Maawa kayo, hindi kami kalaban (Have pity, we are not enemies)!”
Survivors Balute and Gibe also pleaded for the shooting to stop. But the gunfire did not waver for 15-20 minutes, they said.
They also said they were sure that the gunmen had heard them because they heard a man remark, in the local tongue, that Co's group had been there all along (“Nandito lang pala kayo”).
At the briefing, Co's family, friends and supporters, and civil society groups also launched the Justice for Leonard Co movement (www.justiceforleonardco.org).
The Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation has also launched a Leonardo Co Forest Research Fund as a tribute to the scientist.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Kung ano ang sinasabi ng mga puno ng Kananga sa pagpatay kina Leonardo Co
Posted By Kenneth Roland A. Guda
pinoyweekly.org
December 8, 2010
Nakatingala sila sa isang puno, pinagmamasdan ang mga dahon, tanghaling tapat ng Nobyembre 15.
Nasa isang masukal na gubat sa Kananga, Leyte ang field work team ni Leonardo Co. Isang tanyag na taxonomist – o siyentistang nagkaklasipika ng mga tanim at puno – si Leonard. Nangongolekta sila ng seedlings ng mga puno sa lugar. Pangkaraniwang gawain na ito ng mga siyentistang tulad niya.
Kasama niya ang kanyang mga guide at katuwang sa pananaliksik na sina Sofronio “Ponyong” Cortez, Julius “Oyong” Borromeo, Policarpio “Carping” Balute, at Ronino “Niño” Gibe. Nasa gitna sila ng munting palaisipan: Tanguile ba o isang specie ng Shorea ang punong tinitingala? Nalito sila, dahil may nakitang terminal bud ng Shorea sa ibaba ng puno. Pero mukha namang Tanguile, isang tanyag na hardwood, ang puno.
Nakatingala sila sa isang puno, pinagmamasdan ang mga dahon, nang magsimula ang pamamaril.
Interogasyon habang agaw-buhay
Nang matapos ang pamamaril, natagpuang patay ang tanyag na taxonomist na si Leonard. Gayundin sina Ponyong at Oyong. Nakatakas, pero may malalim na sugat sa kalooban, sina Carping at Niño.
Mula sa mga pahayag ni Carping sa midya, sinumpaang salaysay ni Niño na sinumite sa Commission on Human Rights, gayundin sa pag-aaral ng isang independiyenteng fact-finding team na pinamunuan ng grupong Agham (Science and Technology for the People), maaaring mabuo ang mga sirkumstansiya ng pamamaril.
Tatlong araw na silang nasa field work noong Nobyembre 15. Sakop ng operasyon ng isang geothermal plant ng Energy Development Corporation o EDC sa Kananga ang lugar ng pag-aaral nina Leonard. Dating pinatatakbo ng Philippine National Oil Company na pag-aari ng gobyerno, ngayo’y isang pribadong kompanyang pag-aari ng pamilyang Lopez ang EDC.
Tamang tama, konsultant ng EDC sa biodiversity si Leonard, kung kaya may akses siya sa kagubatang kinasasakupan ng operasyon ng planta. Nandoon siya para mangolekta ng seedlings ng mga matatayog na puno sa bahaging ito ng bansa.
Nakatingala sila sa isang puno, inaaral ang mga dahon, nang may magpaputok sa likod ng grupo. Agad na nakatago si Niño. Sa lumabas na mga pahayag niya sa midya, sinabi naman ni Policarpio na nakatakbo siya. Pero sina Leonard, Sofronio at Julius ang tinamaan. Mula sa mga pahayag nina Niño at Policarpio, mistulang pinaulanan sila ng bala. Parang umaangat ang lupa, anila, sa pagtalop ng bala sa lupa. Tumatalsik ang balat ng puno. Habang nakadapa, hindi maiangat ni Niño ang kanyang ulo sa takot na madaplisan ng bala.
Nang matapos ang pagpapaputok – 20 minutos iyon, bagamat ayon sa militar ay 10 hanggang 12 minuto lamang – lumapit ang mga sundalo. Kinuwestiyon si Niño: Nasaan na ang mga kasamahan n’yong armado? Bakit nandito kayo? Bakit may drowing kayo ng lugar? Bakit may GPS kayo? Lumalabas na tumagal mahigit isang oras ang pagtatanong.
Hawak ng isang miyembro ng FFM Team ang karatulang tumutukoy sa isang clearing sa ibaba bilang "Pad 403", ang lugar na pinagbabaan sa tatlong namatay matapos ang pamamaril. Ang tinutungtungang ito ng miyembro ng FFM Team ay ilang metro lang mula sa unang puno na minarkahan nina Leonard. Mahihinuha sa larawan kung gaano kalapit ang pinangyarihan ng pamamaril kina Leonard sa isang clearing, kung kaya lalong nakakapagduda kung bakit tumagal nang higit isang oras ang militar bago ibaba ang mga namatay. (KR Guda) [5]
Hawak ng isang miyembro ng FFM Team ang karatulang tumutukoy sa isang clearing sa ibaba bilang "Pad 403", ang lugar na pinagbabaan sa tatlong namatay matapos ang pamamaril. (KR Guda)
Ibinaba sila, alas-dos na ng hapon. Binitbit sila ng mga sundalo, at ibinaba sa nalalapit na pad (isang sementadong clearing na dinebelop ng EDC), tinatawag na “Pad 403,” at doon naghihintay na ang mga tauhan at sasakyan ng EDC.
Pumanaw na sina Leonard noon. Patay na rin si Ponyong. Ngunit sugatan pa si Oyong, ayon mismo sa militar. Dumadaing pa umano si Oyong, matapos ang putukan. Posibleng dahil isang oras pa ang lumipas, isang oras pang nagsagawa ng interogasyon ang militar, pumanaw din malaon si Oyong.
Mula sa Pad 403, sa pagitan ng alas-dos at 4:30 ng hapon, dinala ng sasakyan ng EDC at ilang sundalo ang tatlong bangkay sa himpilan ng pulisya para ipa-blotter ang kaganapan. Mula sa himpilan, dinala sa ospital para ideklarang patay, at saka dinala sa punerarya.
Di agad nakapag-imbestiga ang pulis at Leyte SOCO sa lugar ng insidente. Ayon kay Senior Insp. Joel Camacho, hepe ng PNP sa Kananga, kinabukasan ng alas-11 ng umaga na unang naimbestigahan ang lugar at nakapagsagawa ng forensic examination sa lugar ang SOCO. Dahil umano ito sa “hot pursuit operations” na ginagawa pa ng militar noong hapon ng Nobyembre 15, matapos mabaril sina Leonard.
Tanyag na tao
Tulad ng matatayog na puno ng Kananga ang reputasyon ni Leonard bilang siyentista. Ito marahil ang dahilan kung bakit nakuha ng pagkamatay niya ang atensiyon ng midya at publiko.
Nobyembre 17 na nang lumabas sa midya ang insidente, matapos ihayag ng militar sa midya ang kanilang bersiyon sa pangyayari. “Naipit” sa isang engkuwentro – isang “chance encounter” pa nga raw – ang grupo ni Leonard. Ayon kay Lt. Col. Federico Tutaan, kumander ng 19th Infantry Battalion ng Philippine Army na siyang may sakop sa operasyon ng militar doon, Nobyembre 12 pa lamang ay nakakuha na sila ng impormasyon na may mga rebeldeng New People’s Army (NPA) sa lugar na ito ng EDC.
“It was a battalion operation,” paliwanag ni Tutaan, nang kapanayamin ng naturang fact-finding team (kasama ang Pinoy Weekly) na pumunta sa Kananga sa basbas ng pamilya ni Leonard noong Nob. 27. Ayon kay Tutaan, nagsasagawa ng operasyon ang kanyang tropa sa lugar magmula Nobyembre 14. (Araw mismo ito na nagdeklara ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ng “unofficial ceasefire” para mapanood ng mga sundalo sa telebisyon ang laban sa boksing ni Manny Pacquiao kay Antonio Margarito.)
Isang squad mula sa naturang batalyon ang nagkataong nakakita sa “di bababa sa 10” miyembro raw ng NPA.
Isang oras na umanong minamanmanan ng mga tropa ng 19th IB, sa pangunguna ng isang 1Lt. Ronald Odchimar, ang mga rebeldeng umaali-aligid sa isang lugar. Pumwesto sa isang “mataas, natatago, at superyor” na posisyon ang mga militar. Una pa raw na nagpaputok ang mga rebelde.
Hindi nakatitiyak si Tutaan na hindi mga tropa niya ang nakapatay kina Leonard. Pero matitiyak daw ito sa autopsy ng mga bangkay, gayundin sa ballistic at forensic investigation sa lugar at mga baril na isinumite ni Tutaan sa Scene of the Crime Operatives ng Philippine National Police at sa National Bureau of Investigation. Iyon ay kung mismong mga baril na ginamit sa operasyon ang isinumite ni Tutaan sa mga imbestigador.
“Isang playground kasi ng NPA ang lugar,” sabi ni Tutaan. Bagamat di umano makapagkampo ang mga rebelde sa lugar dahil sa lapit nito sa battalion camp ng 19th IB, “frequent” (madalas) umano na nakikita ang NPA doon – nanghaharas sa kanilang mga tropa, nagbabanta sa planta.
At bagamat nakikipag-ugnayan ang 19th IB sa mga operasyon nito sa lugar, hindi raw alam ng EDC na may operasyon ang militar sa panahong bago napaslang sina Leonard.
Pinabubulaanan ito ni Tutaan, dahil “shared information” naman daw sa pagitan ng militar at EDC ang mga tulad nito. Hindi man nila tuwirang sinabihan ang EDC sa kanilang aktuwal na operasyon sa lugar, nakatitiyak siyang alam ng EDC ito.
Sinabi naman sa midya ni Lt. Gen. Ralph Villanueva, hepe ng Central Command ng AFP kung saan nakapasailalim ang 19th IB, na nasa lugar ang tropa ng Army para “unahan” (preempt) ang NPA na ayon sa “intelligence sources” umano ng Army ay nagbabalak daw na atakihin ang mga instalasyon ng EDC.
Itinatanggi naman ito ng EDC. Hindi umano nila alam na may operasyong nagaganap sa araw na iyon.
Itinanggi rin ng EDC na may madalas na nakikitang NPA sa erya. Ayon kay Manuel Paete, plant manager ng geothermal plant ng EDC sa Leyte, taong 2005 pa huling nagkaulat ng presensiya ng NPA sa mga lugar na sinasakupan ng planta. May sariling puwersang panseguridad (pinamumunuan ng dating mga militar din) ang planta, at maraming checkpoint sa mga kalsada sa loob nito.
Noong mga araw at linggo bago ang pangyayari, wala silang nabalitaan, nalaman, o nakitang grupo ng mga rebelde sa kanilang lugar.
Ilegal na pagtotroso
Bakit nagsasagawa ng mga operasyong militar ang 19th IB sa lugar ng operasyon ng EDC, gayong may sarili namang puwersang panseguridad ang huli?
Ayon kay Tutaan, mahalagang instalasyon ang planta sa Kananga. Pangalawang pinakamalaking geothermal plant ito sa buong mundo, at nagsusuplay ng kuryente sa Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros, Panay, Biliran, Siquijor, Samar at ilang bahagi ng Southern Luzon. Presidente at chief executive officer ng EDC si Paul Aquino, tiyuhin ni Pang. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III at nangungunang strategist ni Aquino noong panahon ng kampanya.
“Kasama sa mandato ng yunit (namin) ang pag-secure sa vital installations,” ani Tutaan. At bagamat may sariling puwersang panseguridad ang EDC, “we (Army) have to secure the general area of EDC.” Ibig sabihin, ang 107,625 ektaryang bundok at lupaing sakop ng operasyon ng planta.
Naiuulat din sa Kananga ang malaganap na ilegal na pagtotroso sa masukal na kagubatan dito. Ayon sa State of Local Government Report na inilabas ng Department of Interior and Local Government noong 2009 hinggil sa kalagayan ng forest ecosystems sa Kananga: “Forest resources and wildlife habitat are at risk; Incidence of large-scale illegal logging is high. Forest resources and wildlife habitat are severely at risk.”
Ayon kay Dr. Pacencia Milan, beteranong ecologist, dating presidente ng Visayas State University sa Baybay, Leyte, at kaibigan ni Leonard, laganap ang mga ulat ng ilegal na pagtotroso sa kagubatan malapit sa lugar ng insidente. Nababalita rin ng ilang impormante niya na may mga militar na nagpoprotekta umano sa mga operator ng ilegal na pagtotrosong ito. Pero wala siyang paraan para makumpirma ang impormasyong ito.
Gayunman, ilegal na pagtotroso rin kaya ang dahilan kung bakit nagsasagawa ng mga operasyong militar ang 19th IB sa lugar? Sabi ni Tutaan, wala siyang alam na nagsasagawa ng illegal logging sa mismong lugar ng pagkamatay nina Leonard. Gayunman, alam nilang may nag-oopereyt na illegal loggers “sa kabilang erya…sa bandang kanan.”
Katunayan, isang linggo bago ang pamamaril kina Leonard, may nahuli umanong ilegal na mga mangtotroso sa lugar na ito – pero di niya alam kung sino ang nahuli o ano ang nasamsam ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources at ilang elemento ng Army.
Pero sa pagkukuwento niya, mukhang maraming alam sa pagtotroso si Tutaan. Isinalarawan niya sa fact-finding team kung ano ang hitsura ng pinuputol na troso: “Pag puputulin ang puno, at tumayo ka, di ba bilog ang makikita mo? (Cross-section ng puno.) Yung bilog na yun, kasya [ang tao] dun!”
Samantala, sinabi ng mga kaanak ni Ponyong sa FFM Team na napag-alaman nilang may aabot sa 30 kataong rattan cutters (namumutol ng puno ng rattan) na diumano’y pinayagan ng EDC na gumala at mamutol ng puno ng rattan sa may lugar ng insidente, isang linggo bago ang mga pamamaslang.
Paliwanag ni Anthony Arbias, kapwa opisyal ni Leonard sa Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society at isa sa mga miyembro ng FFM Team, mahalagang bahagi sana ng conservation at reforestation sa mga kagubahatang tulad ng sa Kananga ang isinasagawa ng grupo ni Leonard. Iyong kinokolekta nilang seedlings ang maaaring magamit para mapatubo at mapalaki sa nursery at kalauna’y maitanim sa mga bahagi ng gubat na nakakalbo na.
Engkuwentro?
May engkuwentro ba talaga o wala? May rebelde ba talagang umaaligid sa mismong laylayan ng geothermal plant ng EDC sa Kananga, Leyte noong Nobyembre 15? Mahalagang sagutin ang mga tanong na ito, para malaman kung sino ang responsable sa pagkamatay nina Leonard, Ponyong at Oyong.
Sa pahayag ng National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas (NDF-EV), ang pampulitikang organisasyon ng mga rebelde, sinabi ng tagapagsalita nito na si Fr. Santiago Salas na “improbable” (malayo sa posibilidad) na namatay sina Leonard sa palitan ng putok sa pagitan ng NPA at mga tropa ng 19th IB. “The NPA camps are well-hidden and highly secure areas inaccessible to most, and an NPA unit on maneuvers also stays away from civilians to maintain secrecy and to avoid endangering them,” ani Salas.
Pinuntahan ng fact-finding team ang mismong site ng insidente. Nakita ng team ang matatayog na mga punong pinag-aralan nina Leonard. Nakita nito ang marka na iniwan nina Leonard sa unang tatlong puno. Nakita rin nito ang punong hinahandang markahan at tinitingala ng lima bago pagbabarilin.
Nakita rin ng fact-finding team ang isang nalalapit na mataas na posisyon. Isang ridge ito na tinatayang aabot sa 40 metro ang layo sa punong tiningala nina Leonard. Sa pag-akyat sa ridge na ito, tanaw ang punong huling sinusuri nina Leonard. Bagamat may kalayuan (tantiya ni Tutaan, 30 hanggang 40 metro ang layo), kitang kita sina Leonard. May “clear shot” ang sinumang nasa puwestong ito, ika nga.
Sa mahigit isang oras ng pagmamasid at pagdodokumento, napansin din ng team na lahat ng nakitang pinaghihinalaang marka ng bala (pinaghihinalaang tama ng mga bala sa mga puno) ay galing sa isang direksiyon lamang. Ang kabilang bahagi ng mga punong may tama ng bala sa isang direksiyon ay walang tama.
“Sa ating initial findings mula sa fact-finding mission, (lumalabas na) isang side lang ang pinanggalingan ng mga bala doon sa pagpunta sa crime-scene. Isang indikasyon ito na walang crossfire na nangyari,” ani Dr. Giovanni Tapang, propesor ng physics sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, tagapangulo ng Agham at isa sa mga pinuno ng misyon. “Dito sa ating pagtantiya sa physical evidence na ito, makikita nating sina Leonard Co na gumagawa lamang ng isang tree survey sa malapit sa Pad 403 ng EDC ay tinamaan ng bullets na nanggaling sa ridge.”
Lumalabas na may ilang inconsistencies din sa kuwento ni Tutaan. Sinabi kasi niya sa fact-finding team, na “nasa harap ng mga tropa ang kalaban (NPA), nasa kanan (ng militar) sina Co.” Direktang nasa harap ng ridge ang punong iniimbestigahan noon nina Leonard. Kung sinasabi ng militar na nasa harap nila noon ang pinaghihinalaang mga NPA, mukhang sina Leonard iyong tinutukoy nila.
Napagkamalan?
Malakas ang posibilidad, kung gayon, na napaghinalaan ng mga militar na NPA sina Leonard kung kaya pinaputukan.
Dahil ba may dala ang dalawa sa kanila na mahahabang itim na payong na maaaring pagkamalang baril sa malayo? Dahil ba paboritong sumbrero ni Leonard ang isang sumbrerong may star sa gitna – sumbrerong karaniwang sinusuot ng mga lider-rebelde, at pinasikat ng mga rebolusyonaryong lider sa ibang bansa na sina Che Guevara at Mao Zedong? Ang mga sundalo lamang na mismong nagpaputok ang tiyak na makasasagot.
Pero sa ngayon, nananatiling nasa proteksiyon sila ng 19th IB. Iginigiit ng kanilang kumander na si Lt. Col. Tutaan na engkuwentro ang naganap. Samantala, kung mayroon mang rebelde sa maulang araw na iyon noong Nobyembre 15, walang ibang nakakita kundi sila.
Di nakita ng EDC, ng sanlaksang mga guwardiya nito, na nagbabantay sa mga checkpoint, at huling nakabalita ng di-kumpirmadong presensiya ng NPA noon pang 2005. Di rin alam ng mga manggagawa ng EDC, na nagtatrabaho sa geothermal wells na matatagpuan malapit sa lugar ng insidente. Di rin alam ng pulisya, sa pangunguna ni Senior Insp. Camacho, na tila ayaw magsalita ng taliwas sa sinasabi ng militar, nang kapanayamin ng fact-finding team.
Higit sa lahat, di alam nina Leonard, Ponyong, Oyong, Carping at Nino. Sa salaysay pa nga nina Nino at Carping, wala silang nakitang ni anino ng rebelde. Sa obserbasyon nila, mula sa iisang direksiyon ang mga bala.
Ayon sa ilang nakakilala sa kanya, makaranasang siyentista si Leonard. “Hindi siya nagte-take ng risks,” kuwento ni Dr. Milan. Malamang daw na pumunta si Leonard sa kagubatang iyon ng Kananga dahil sigurado siya at ang kanyang team sa kanilang seguridad. Sigurado siyang ligtas siyang makakapagsarbey ng mga puno.
Posibleng magamit sana ang mga kaalamang nakuha ni Leonard doon para sa reforestation ng Leyte, na maraming beses nang sinapitan ng trahedya (Ormoc noong 1991 at Guinsaugon noong 2006) dahil diumano sa mga nakakalbong kagubatan doon.
Noong araw na iyon, tumitingala sina Leonard hindi lamang sa mga puno. Mistulang tumitingala sila sa kinabukasan ng Leyte, sa maaaring magawa para mapaunlad ang nanganganib na kagubatan dito. Tulad ng biglaang pagbuwal ng mga illegal logger sa mga puno ng Leyte, biglaang nabuwal ng bala sina Leonard, Ponyong at Oying noong tanghaling iyon ng Nobyembre 15.
pinoyweekly.org
December 8, 2010
Nakatingala sila sa isang puno, pinagmamasdan ang mga dahon, tanghaling tapat ng Nobyembre 15.
Nasa isang masukal na gubat sa Kananga, Leyte ang field work team ni Leonardo Co. Isang tanyag na taxonomist – o siyentistang nagkaklasipika ng mga tanim at puno – si Leonard. Nangongolekta sila ng seedlings ng mga puno sa lugar. Pangkaraniwang gawain na ito ng mga siyentistang tulad niya.
Kasama niya ang kanyang mga guide at katuwang sa pananaliksik na sina Sofronio “Ponyong” Cortez, Julius “Oyong” Borromeo, Policarpio “Carping” Balute, at Ronino “Niño” Gibe. Nasa gitna sila ng munting palaisipan: Tanguile ba o isang specie ng Shorea ang punong tinitingala? Nalito sila, dahil may nakitang terminal bud ng Shorea sa ibaba ng puno. Pero mukha namang Tanguile, isang tanyag na hardwood, ang puno.
Nakatingala sila sa isang puno, pinagmamasdan ang mga dahon, nang magsimula ang pamamaril.
Interogasyon habang agaw-buhay
Nang matapos ang pamamaril, natagpuang patay ang tanyag na taxonomist na si Leonard. Gayundin sina Ponyong at Oyong. Nakatakas, pero may malalim na sugat sa kalooban, sina Carping at Niño.
Mula sa mga pahayag ni Carping sa midya, sinumpaang salaysay ni Niño na sinumite sa Commission on Human Rights, gayundin sa pag-aaral ng isang independiyenteng fact-finding team na pinamunuan ng grupong Agham (Science and Technology for the People), maaaring mabuo ang mga sirkumstansiya ng pamamaril.
Tatlong araw na silang nasa field work noong Nobyembre 15. Sakop ng operasyon ng isang geothermal plant ng Energy Development Corporation o EDC sa Kananga ang lugar ng pag-aaral nina Leonard. Dating pinatatakbo ng Philippine National Oil Company na pag-aari ng gobyerno, ngayo’y isang pribadong kompanyang pag-aari ng pamilyang Lopez ang EDC.
Tamang tama, konsultant ng EDC sa biodiversity si Leonard, kung kaya may akses siya sa kagubatang kinasasakupan ng operasyon ng planta. Nandoon siya para mangolekta ng seedlings ng mga matatayog na puno sa bahaging ito ng bansa.
Nakatingala sila sa isang puno, inaaral ang mga dahon, nang may magpaputok sa likod ng grupo. Agad na nakatago si Niño. Sa lumabas na mga pahayag niya sa midya, sinabi naman ni Policarpio na nakatakbo siya. Pero sina Leonard, Sofronio at Julius ang tinamaan. Mula sa mga pahayag nina Niño at Policarpio, mistulang pinaulanan sila ng bala. Parang umaangat ang lupa, anila, sa pagtalop ng bala sa lupa. Tumatalsik ang balat ng puno. Habang nakadapa, hindi maiangat ni Niño ang kanyang ulo sa takot na madaplisan ng bala.
Nang matapos ang pagpapaputok – 20 minutos iyon, bagamat ayon sa militar ay 10 hanggang 12 minuto lamang – lumapit ang mga sundalo. Kinuwestiyon si Niño: Nasaan na ang mga kasamahan n’yong armado? Bakit nandito kayo? Bakit may drowing kayo ng lugar? Bakit may GPS kayo? Lumalabas na tumagal mahigit isang oras ang pagtatanong.
Hawak ng isang miyembro ng FFM Team ang karatulang tumutukoy sa isang clearing sa ibaba bilang "Pad 403", ang lugar na pinagbabaan sa tatlong namatay matapos ang pamamaril. Ang tinutungtungang ito ng miyembro ng FFM Team ay ilang metro lang mula sa unang puno na minarkahan nina Leonard. Mahihinuha sa larawan kung gaano kalapit ang pinangyarihan ng pamamaril kina Leonard sa isang clearing, kung kaya lalong nakakapagduda kung bakit tumagal nang higit isang oras ang militar bago ibaba ang mga namatay. (KR Guda) [5]
Hawak ng isang miyembro ng FFM Team ang karatulang tumutukoy sa isang clearing sa ibaba bilang "Pad 403", ang lugar na pinagbabaan sa tatlong namatay matapos ang pamamaril. (KR Guda)
Ibinaba sila, alas-dos na ng hapon. Binitbit sila ng mga sundalo, at ibinaba sa nalalapit na pad (isang sementadong clearing na dinebelop ng EDC), tinatawag na “Pad 403,” at doon naghihintay na ang mga tauhan at sasakyan ng EDC.
Pumanaw na sina Leonard noon. Patay na rin si Ponyong. Ngunit sugatan pa si Oyong, ayon mismo sa militar. Dumadaing pa umano si Oyong, matapos ang putukan. Posibleng dahil isang oras pa ang lumipas, isang oras pang nagsagawa ng interogasyon ang militar, pumanaw din malaon si Oyong.
Mula sa Pad 403, sa pagitan ng alas-dos at 4:30 ng hapon, dinala ng sasakyan ng EDC at ilang sundalo ang tatlong bangkay sa himpilan ng pulisya para ipa-blotter ang kaganapan. Mula sa himpilan, dinala sa ospital para ideklarang patay, at saka dinala sa punerarya.
Di agad nakapag-imbestiga ang pulis at Leyte SOCO sa lugar ng insidente. Ayon kay Senior Insp. Joel Camacho, hepe ng PNP sa Kananga, kinabukasan ng alas-11 ng umaga na unang naimbestigahan ang lugar at nakapagsagawa ng forensic examination sa lugar ang SOCO. Dahil umano ito sa “hot pursuit operations” na ginagawa pa ng militar noong hapon ng Nobyembre 15, matapos mabaril sina Leonard.
Tanyag na tao
Tulad ng matatayog na puno ng Kananga ang reputasyon ni Leonard bilang siyentista. Ito marahil ang dahilan kung bakit nakuha ng pagkamatay niya ang atensiyon ng midya at publiko.
Nobyembre 17 na nang lumabas sa midya ang insidente, matapos ihayag ng militar sa midya ang kanilang bersiyon sa pangyayari. “Naipit” sa isang engkuwentro – isang “chance encounter” pa nga raw – ang grupo ni Leonard. Ayon kay Lt. Col. Federico Tutaan, kumander ng 19th Infantry Battalion ng Philippine Army na siyang may sakop sa operasyon ng militar doon, Nobyembre 12 pa lamang ay nakakuha na sila ng impormasyon na may mga rebeldeng New People’s Army (NPA) sa lugar na ito ng EDC.
“It was a battalion operation,” paliwanag ni Tutaan, nang kapanayamin ng naturang fact-finding team (kasama ang Pinoy Weekly) na pumunta sa Kananga sa basbas ng pamilya ni Leonard noong Nob. 27. Ayon kay Tutaan, nagsasagawa ng operasyon ang kanyang tropa sa lugar magmula Nobyembre 14. (Araw mismo ito na nagdeklara ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ng “unofficial ceasefire” para mapanood ng mga sundalo sa telebisyon ang laban sa boksing ni Manny Pacquiao kay Antonio Margarito.)
Isang squad mula sa naturang batalyon ang nagkataong nakakita sa “di bababa sa 10” miyembro raw ng NPA.
Isang oras na umanong minamanmanan ng mga tropa ng 19th IB, sa pangunguna ng isang 1Lt. Ronald Odchimar, ang mga rebeldeng umaali-aligid sa isang lugar. Pumwesto sa isang “mataas, natatago, at superyor” na posisyon ang mga militar. Una pa raw na nagpaputok ang mga rebelde.
Hindi nakatitiyak si Tutaan na hindi mga tropa niya ang nakapatay kina Leonard. Pero matitiyak daw ito sa autopsy ng mga bangkay, gayundin sa ballistic at forensic investigation sa lugar at mga baril na isinumite ni Tutaan sa Scene of the Crime Operatives ng Philippine National Police at sa National Bureau of Investigation. Iyon ay kung mismong mga baril na ginamit sa operasyon ang isinumite ni Tutaan sa mga imbestigador.
“Isang playground kasi ng NPA ang lugar,” sabi ni Tutaan. Bagamat di umano makapagkampo ang mga rebelde sa lugar dahil sa lapit nito sa battalion camp ng 19th IB, “frequent” (madalas) umano na nakikita ang NPA doon – nanghaharas sa kanilang mga tropa, nagbabanta sa planta.
At bagamat nakikipag-ugnayan ang 19th IB sa mga operasyon nito sa lugar, hindi raw alam ng EDC na may operasyon ang militar sa panahong bago napaslang sina Leonard.
Pinabubulaanan ito ni Tutaan, dahil “shared information” naman daw sa pagitan ng militar at EDC ang mga tulad nito. Hindi man nila tuwirang sinabihan ang EDC sa kanilang aktuwal na operasyon sa lugar, nakatitiyak siyang alam ng EDC ito.
Sinabi naman sa midya ni Lt. Gen. Ralph Villanueva, hepe ng Central Command ng AFP kung saan nakapasailalim ang 19th IB, na nasa lugar ang tropa ng Army para “unahan” (preempt) ang NPA na ayon sa “intelligence sources” umano ng Army ay nagbabalak daw na atakihin ang mga instalasyon ng EDC.
Itinatanggi naman ito ng EDC. Hindi umano nila alam na may operasyong nagaganap sa araw na iyon.
Itinanggi rin ng EDC na may madalas na nakikitang NPA sa erya. Ayon kay Manuel Paete, plant manager ng geothermal plant ng EDC sa Leyte, taong 2005 pa huling nagkaulat ng presensiya ng NPA sa mga lugar na sinasakupan ng planta. May sariling puwersang panseguridad (pinamumunuan ng dating mga militar din) ang planta, at maraming checkpoint sa mga kalsada sa loob nito.
Noong mga araw at linggo bago ang pangyayari, wala silang nabalitaan, nalaman, o nakitang grupo ng mga rebelde sa kanilang lugar.
Ilegal na pagtotroso
Bakit nagsasagawa ng mga operasyong militar ang 19th IB sa lugar ng operasyon ng EDC, gayong may sarili namang puwersang panseguridad ang huli?
Ayon kay Tutaan, mahalagang instalasyon ang planta sa Kananga. Pangalawang pinakamalaking geothermal plant ito sa buong mundo, at nagsusuplay ng kuryente sa Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros, Panay, Biliran, Siquijor, Samar at ilang bahagi ng Southern Luzon. Presidente at chief executive officer ng EDC si Paul Aquino, tiyuhin ni Pang. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III at nangungunang strategist ni Aquino noong panahon ng kampanya.
“Kasama sa mandato ng yunit (namin) ang pag-secure sa vital installations,” ani Tutaan. At bagamat may sariling puwersang panseguridad ang EDC, “we (Army) have to secure the general area of EDC.” Ibig sabihin, ang 107,625 ektaryang bundok at lupaing sakop ng operasyon ng planta.
Naiuulat din sa Kananga ang malaganap na ilegal na pagtotroso sa masukal na kagubatan dito. Ayon sa State of Local Government Report na inilabas ng Department of Interior and Local Government noong 2009 hinggil sa kalagayan ng forest ecosystems sa Kananga: “Forest resources and wildlife habitat are at risk; Incidence of large-scale illegal logging is high. Forest resources and wildlife habitat are severely at risk.”
Ayon kay Dr. Pacencia Milan, beteranong ecologist, dating presidente ng Visayas State University sa Baybay, Leyte, at kaibigan ni Leonard, laganap ang mga ulat ng ilegal na pagtotroso sa kagubatan malapit sa lugar ng insidente. Nababalita rin ng ilang impormante niya na may mga militar na nagpoprotekta umano sa mga operator ng ilegal na pagtotrosong ito. Pero wala siyang paraan para makumpirma ang impormasyong ito.
Gayunman, ilegal na pagtotroso rin kaya ang dahilan kung bakit nagsasagawa ng mga operasyong militar ang 19th IB sa lugar? Sabi ni Tutaan, wala siyang alam na nagsasagawa ng illegal logging sa mismong lugar ng pagkamatay nina Leonard. Gayunman, alam nilang may nag-oopereyt na illegal loggers “sa kabilang erya…sa bandang kanan.”
Katunayan, isang linggo bago ang pamamaril kina Leonard, may nahuli umanong ilegal na mga mangtotroso sa lugar na ito – pero di niya alam kung sino ang nahuli o ano ang nasamsam ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources at ilang elemento ng Army.
Pero sa pagkukuwento niya, mukhang maraming alam sa pagtotroso si Tutaan. Isinalarawan niya sa fact-finding team kung ano ang hitsura ng pinuputol na troso: “Pag puputulin ang puno, at tumayo ka, di ba bilog ang makikita mo? (Cross-section ng puno.) Yung bilog na yun, kasya [ang tao] dun!”
Samantala, sinabi ng mga kaanak ni Ponyong sa FFM Team na napag-alaman nilang may aabot sa 30 kataong rattan cutters (namumutol ng puno ng rattan) na diumano’y pinayagan ng EDC na gumala at mamutol ng puno ng rattan sa may lugar ng insidente, isang linggo bago ang mga pamamaslang.
Paliwanag ni Anthony Arbias, kapwa opisyal ni Leonard sa Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society at isa sa mga miyembro ng FFM Team, mahalagang bahagi sana ng conservation at reforestation sa mga kagubahatang tulad ng sa Kananga ang isinasagawa ng grupo ni Leonard. Iyong kinokolekta nilang seedlings ang maaaring magamit para mapatubo at mapalaki sa nursery at kalauna’y maitanim sa mga bahagi ng gubat na nakakalbo na.
Engkuwentro?
May engkuwentro ba talaga o wala? May rebelde ba talagang umaaligid sa mismong laylayan ng geothermal plant ng EDC sa Kananga, Leyte noong Nobyembre 15? Mahalagang sagutin ang mga tanong na ito, para malaman kung sino ang responsable sa pagkamatay nina Leonard, Ponyong at Oyong.
Sa pahayag ng National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas (NDF-EV), ang pampulitikang organisasyon ng mga rebelde, sinabi ng tagapagsalita nito na si Fr. Santiago Salas na “improbable” (malayo sa posibilidad) na namatay sina Leonard sa palitan ng putok sa pagitan ng NPA at mga tropa ng 19th IB. “The NPA camps are well-hidden and highly secure areas inaccessible to most, and an NPA unit on maneuvers also stays away from civilians to maintain secrecy and to avoid endangering them,” ani Salas.
Pinuntahan ng fact-finding team ang mismong site ng insidente. Nakita ng team ang matatayog na mga punong pinag-aralan nina Leonard. Nakita nito ang marka na iniwan nina Leonard sa unang tatlong puno. Nakita rin nito ang punong hinahandang markahan at tinitingala ng lima bago pagbabarilin.
Nakita rin ng fact-finding team ang isang nalalapit na mataas na posisyon. Isang ridge ito na tinatayang aabot sa 40 metro ang layo sa punong tiningala nina Leonard. Sa pag-akyat sa ridge na ito, tanaw ang punong huling sinusuri nina Leonard. Bagamat may kalayuan (tantiya ni Tutaan, 30 hanggang 40 metro ang layo), kitang kita sina Leonard. May “clear shot” ang sinumang nasa puwestong ito, ika nga.
Sa mahigit isang oras ng pagmamasid at pagdodokumento, napansin din ng team na lahat ng nakitang pinaghihinalaang marka ng bala (pinaghihinalaang tama ng mga bala sa mga puno) ay galing sa isang direksiyon lamang. Ang kabilang bahagi ng mga punong may tama ng bala sa isang direksiyon ay walang tama.
“Sa ating initial findings mula sa fact-finding mission, (lumalabas na) isang side lang ang pinanggalingan ng mga bala doon sa pagpunta sa crime-scene. Isang indikasyon ito na walang crossfire na nangyari,” ani Dr. Giovanni Tapang, propesor ng physics sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, tagapangulo ng Agham at isa sa mga pinuno ng misyon. “Dito sa ating pagtantiya sa physical evidence na ito, makikita nating sina Leonard Co na gumagawa lamang ng isang tree survey sa malapit sa Pad 403 ng EDC ay tinamaan ng bullets na nanggaling sa ridge.”
Lumalabas na may ilang inconsistencies din sa kuwento ni Tutaan. Sinabi kasi niya sa fact-finding team, na “nasa harap ng mga tropa ang kalaban (NPA), nasa kanan (ng militar) sina Co.” Direktang nasa harap ng ridge ang punong iniimbestigahan noon nina Leonard. Kung sinasabi ng militar na nasa harap nila noon ang pinaghihinalaang mga NPA, mukhang sina Leonard iyong tinutukoy nila.
Napagkamalan?
Malakas ang posibilidad, kung gayon, na napaghinalaan ng mga militar na NPA sina Leonard kung kaya pinaputukan.
Dahil ba may dala ang dalawa sa kanila na mahahabang itim na payong na maaaring pagkamalang baril sa malayo? Dahil ba paboritong sumbrero ni Leonard ang isang sumbrerong may star sa gitna – sumbrerong karaniwang sinusuot ng mga lider-rebelde, at pinasikat ng mga rebolusyonaryong lider sa ibang bansa na sina Che Guevara at Mao Zedong? Ang mga sundalo lamang na mismong nagpaputok ang tiyak na makasasagot.
Pero sa ngayon, nananatiling nasa proteksiyon sila ng 19th IB. Iginigiit ng kanilang kumander na si Lt. Col. Tutaan na engkuwentro ang naganap. Samantala, kung mayroon mang rebelde sa maulang araw na iyon noong Nobyembre 15, walang ibang nakakita kundi sila.
Di nakita ng EDC, ng sanlaksang mga guwardiya nito, na nagbabantay sa mga checkpoint, at huling nakabalita ng di-kumpirmadong presensiya ng NPA noon pang 2005. Di rin alam ng mga manggagawa ng EDC, na nagtatrabaho sa geothermal wells na matatagpuan malapit sa lugar ng insidente. Di rin alam ng pulisya, sa pangunguna ni Senior Insp. Camacho, na tila ayaw magsalita ng taliwas sa sinasabi ng militar, nang kapanayamin ng fact-finding team.
Higit sa lahat, di alam nina Leonard, Ponyong, Oyong, Carping at Nino. Sa salaysay pa nga nina Nino at Carping, wala silang nakitang ni anino ng rebelde. Sa obserbasyon nila, mula sa iisang direksiyon ang mga bala.
Ayon sa ilang nakakilala sa kanya, makaranasang siyentista si Leonard. “Hindi siya nagte-take ng risks,” kuwento ni Dr. Milan. Malamang daw na pumunta si Leonard sa kagubatang iyon ng Kananga dahil sigurado siya at ang kanyang team sa kanilang seguridad. Sigurado siyang ligtas siyang makakapagsarbey ng mga puno.
Posibleng magamit sana ang mga kaalamang nakuha ni Leonard doon para sa reforestation ng Leyte, na maraming beses nang sinapitan ng trahedya (Ormoc noong 1991 at Guinsaugon noong 2006) dahil diumano sa mga nakakalbong kagubatan doon.
Noong araw na iyon, tumitingala sina Leonard hindi lamang sa mga puno. Mistulang tumitingala sila sa kinabukasan ng Leyte, sa maaaring magawa para mapaunlad ang nanganganib na kagubatan dito. Tulad ng biglaang pagbuwal ng mga illegal logger sa mga puno ng Leyte, biglaang nabuwal ng bala sina Leonard, Ponyong at Oying noong tanghaling iyon ng Nobyembre 15.
Scientists: Army's bullets killed top Filipino botanist Leonard Co
JESSE EDEP
GMANews.TV
12/08/2010 | 01:49 PM
The Philippine Army’s bullets killed top Filipino botanist Leonard Co in Leyte province in November, a group of scientists said on Wednesday.
“The direction of the fire was mainly concentrated in the area where [the research team of] Co were standing," Giovanni Tapang, national chairperson of Advocates of Science and Technology for the People (Agham), said at a press conference.
“There was no indication of any crossfire," Tapang said. “The military certainly killed him and two of his team."
Tapang pointed out that an analysis of Co’s gunshot wounds showed that the military could have been on top of a hill when they fired toward the direction of Co and his companions.
Co, along with forest guard Sofronio Cortez and guide Julius Borromeo, were killed in an alleged crossfire between the government troops and the New People’s Army in Leyte on Nov. 15.
“The failure of the military unit involved to provide immediate medical attention and hospital treatment to Borromeo prolonged his agony and ultimately led to his death," Tapang said.
Co and his companions were searching for tree species suitable for a forest restoration project.
Agham investigation
After the death of Co and some members of his research team, Agham went to Kanaga town in Leyte province to establish facts and gather relevant information on the Nov. 15 incident.
Agham's “Fact-Finding Mission on the Killings of Leonard Co" will submit its observations to the Commission on Human Rights, Department of Justice, National Bureau of Investigation, and some international human rights groups.
Based on its observation report, Agham could not identify the number of bullets that hit Co.
However, according to the family of the victim, Co suffered from three bullet wounds.
Tapang pointed out in its observation report that the Army’s 19th IB “should release the names" of the members of the squad and platoon, including their commanding officers, involved in the shooting incident.
The firearms of these officers and enlisted men should be secured and surrendered to proper authorities, he said in the press conference.
Agham also recommended that the Philippine Army, Energy Development Corp. — the company that tasked Co to go through his research — and Philippine National Police should make accessible all documents that would further shed light on the incident.
Caught in crossfire
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), meanwhile, maintained Co and two of his companions were killed as a result of firefight between government forces and NPA rebels.
AFP Central Command spokesman Maj. Christopher Tampos nevertheless said they have nothing against Agham for its report blaming the military for the victims' deaths.
“We have nothing against Agham or other groups but what we are waiting for is the official result [of the investigation] from the [police] task force," said Tampos, citing the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Tampos said the military conducted two investigations on the incident, one by the Army’s 802nd Brigade and one by the 8th Infantry Division. He said the two arrived at the same results.
“There were same results. Their findings were that, indeed, there was encounter in the site," he said.
Tampos, however, admitted that the investigations were partial because they were not able to take the statements of the two survivors, who allegedly refused to cooperate in the military probe.
“They’ve gotten pictures, evidence on the scene of the encounter, including shells from the opposing side. They recovered (shells) from the troops, from the government forces and there were also spent shells coming from the opposing side," he said.
Foremost botanist
Co is a foremost botanist of the University of the Philippines-Diliman and Conservation International-Philippines.
He was given the honor of having a newly-discovered species of Rafflesia (a plant genus bearing giant flowers), Rafflesia leonardis, named after him.
Co, 56, is survived by wife Glenda and daughter Linnaei Marie. – VVP/KBK, GMANews.TV
GMANews.TV
12/08/2010 | 01:49 PM
The Philippine Army’s bullets killed top Filipino botanist Leonard Co in Leyte province in November, a group of scientists said on Wednesday.
“The direction of the fire was mainly concentrated in the area where [the research team of] Co were standing," Giovanni Tapang, national chairperson of Advocates of Science and Technology for the People (Agham), said at a press conference.
“There was no indication of any crossfire," Tapang said. “The military certainly killed him and two of his team."
Tapang pointed out that an analysis of Co’s gunshot wounds showed that the military could have been on top of a hill when they fired toward the direction of Co and his companions.
Co, along with forest guard Sofronio Cortez and guide Julius Borromeo, were killed in an alleged crossfire between the government troops and the New People’s Army in Leyte on Nov. 15.
“The failure of the military unit involved to provide immediate medical attention and hospital treatment to Borromeo prolonged his agony and ultimately led to his death," Tapang said.
Co and his companions were searching for tree species suitable for a forest restoration project.
Agham investigation
After the death of Co and some members of his research team, Agham went to Kanaga town in Leyte province to establish facts and gather relevant information on the Nov. 15 incident.
Agham's “Fact-Finding Mission on the Killings of Leonard Co" will submit its observations to the Commission on Human Rights, Department of Justice, National Bureau of Investigation, and some international human rights groups.
Based on its observation report, Agham could not identify the number of bullets that hit Co.
However, according to the family of the victim, Co suffered from three bullet wounds.
Tapang pointed out in its observation report that the Army’s 19th IB “should release the names" of the members of the squad and platoon, including their commanding officers, involved in the shooting incident.
The firearms of these officers and enlisted men should be secured and surrendered to proper authorities, he said in the press conference.
Agham also recommended that the Philippine Army, Energy Development Corp. — the company that tasked Co to go through his research — and Philippine National Police should make accessible all documents that would further shed light on the incident.
Caught in crossfire
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), meanwhile, maintained Co and two of his companions were killed as a result of firefight between government forces and NPA rebels.
AFP Central Command spokesman Maj. Christopher Tampos nevertheless said they have nothing against Agham for its report blaming the military for the victims' deaths.
“We have nothing against Agham or other groups but what we are waiting for is the official result [of the investigation] from the [police] task force," said Tampos, citing the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Tampos said the military conducted two investigations on the incident, one by the Army’s 802nd Brigade and one by the 8th Infantry Division. He said the two arrived at the same results.
“There were same results. Their findings were that, indeed, there was encounter in the site," he said.
Tampos, however, admitted that the investigations were partial because they were not able to take the statements of the two survivors, who allegedly refused to cooperate in the military probe.
“They’ve gotten pictures, evidence on the scene of the encounter, including shells from the opposing side. They recovered (shells) from the troops, from the government forces and there were also spent shells coming from the opposing side," he said.
Foremost botanist
Co is a foremost botanist of the University of the Philippines-Diliman and Conservation International-Philippines.
He was given the honor of having a newly-discovered species of Rafflesia (a plant genus bearing giant flowers), Rafflesia leonardis, named after him.
Co, 56, is survived by wife Glenda and daughter Linnaei Marie. – VVP/KBK, GMANews.TV
UP botanist not killed in crossfire: probe
ABS-CBN News
By Atom Araullo
Posted at 12/08/2010
MANILA, Philippines - It was the military who shot and killed renowned plant taxonomist and ethnobiologist Leonard Co and his 2 companions, an independent fact-finding mission claimed on Wednesday.
The mission, which is composed of members of the academe and cause-oriented group, presented its findings after conducting an investigation in the jungles of Kananga, Leyte, where Leonard and his team were slain on November 15.
Mission head Giovanni Tapang of the scientists' group Agham said bullet trajectories at the site suggests that the gunshots all came from one direction.
Evidence also suggests that Co and his group were the main targets of the gunmen, he added.
This contradicted earlier statements by the Army’s 19th Infantry Battalion in Leyte, who said that the victims were caught in a crossfire between government troops and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.
"Since the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] was the only armed group in the area, this indicates that it was the soldiers that fired at Co and his companions,” Tapang said.
The mission also said that delays in bringing another victim, Julius Borromeo, to a hospital may have cost him his life.
"It took almost two hours before Julius was brought down from the site to receive medical attention, despite his repeated pleadings,” Tapang said.
More than the loss of a top-caliber Filipino scientist, Tapang believes there is more at stake in seeking justice for Co.
"Kailangan natin matigil yung impunity. Hindi naman pwedeng pag may mga scientists o field workers dun, basta nalang babarilin ng walang kalaban-laban," he said.
The mission’s findings will be forwarded to the Commission on Human Rights, the Department of Justice, and the National Bureau of Investigation.
AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said on Wednesday that he welcomes the findings of the fact-finding mission.
He said they are ready to take action against soldiers responsible if the findings are proven in court.
By Atom Araullo
Posted at 12/08/2010
MANILA, Philippines - It was the military who shot and killed renowned plant taxonomist and ethnobiologist Leonard Co and his 2 companions, an independent fact-finding mission claimed on Wednesday.
The mission, which is composed of members of the academe and cause-oriented group, presented its findings after conducting an investigation in the jungles of Kananga, Leyte, where Leonard and his team were slain on November 15.
Mission head Giovanni Tapang of the scientists' group Agham said bullet trajectories at the site suggests that the gunshots all came from one direction.
Evidence also suggests that Co and his group were the main targets of the gunmen, he added.
This contradicted earlier statements by the Army’s 19th Infantry Battalion in Leyte, who said that the victims were caught in a crossfire between government troops and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.
"Since the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] was the only armed group in the area, this indicates that it was the soldiers that fired at Co and his companions,” Tapang said.
The mission also said that delays in bringing another victim, Julius Borromeo, to a hospital may have cost him his life.
"It took almost two hours before Julius was brought down from the site to receive medical attention, despite his repeated pleadings,” Tapang said.
More than the loss of a top-caliber Filipino scientist, Tapang believes there is more at stake in seeking justice for Co.
"Kailangan natin matigil yung impunity. Hindi naman pwedeng pag may mga scientists o field workers dun, basta nalang babarilin ng walang kalaban-laban," he said.
The mission’s findings will be forwarded to the Commission on Human Rights, the Department of Justice, and the National Bureau of Investigation.
AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said on Wednesday that he welcomes the findings of the fact-finding mission.
He said they are ready to take action against soldiers responsible if the findings are proven in court.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Probe on botanist’s, 2 others deaths continue
EVMail News
December 6, 2010
CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, PALO, LEYTE – Forensic expert Dr. Raquel Fortun, together with two colleagues, were here in the city this week to conduct a second autopsy on the bodies of EDC forester Sofronio Cortez and farmer Julius Borromeo.
To recall, the two were killed in an alleged crossfire last November 15 at the forests of the PNOC reservation while accompanying noted botanist Dr. Leonard Co who was doing a biodiversity survey and who was also killed. Co’s body was already examined by Fortun on the family’s request before flying over.
The noted forensic expert also attended a 3-day seminar on forensics training for homicide investigators of the police in the region, held at the Baybayon ni Agalon.
In a related development, the initial fact-finding report by the chairman of the Special Investigation Task Group Sr. Supt. John Sosito submitted to the PNP regional headquarters here dated November 23, 2010 disclosed that some 24 empty shells of 5.56mm were recovered by SOCO team at the site.
They also had the names of the soldiers involved in the incident, with data of their corresponding issued firearms for reference. The list would be helpful if the firearms issued to them are turned-over to the PNP Crime Laboratory for ballistics examination to find out whether the shells recovered match the firearms.
The 19th IB had already turned over nine high-powered firearms to the police, which in turn had been endorsed to the crime laboratory on Sunday yet, November 21.
The soldiers have also been asked to submit their affidavits and other pertinent documents in preparation for the possible filing of criminal charges, if evidences warrant.
The same initial fact-finding report revealed that during an ocular inspection and reenactment also conducted by probers together with the Commission on Human Rights, they discovered on the site more empty shells of M-16 rifle and other personal belongings and foodstuffs.
They also spotted two shells believed to be from an M203 grenade launcher but the SOCO did not touch it. Instead, they requested the Explosive Ordnance Division of PRO-8 to secure it for proper disposition.
It was learned from Supt. Rea Villavecencio, head of the PNP crime laboratory, that all pieces of evidence they gathered in the area are still to be submitted to PNP crime laboratory in Cebu for further examination.
She added that as of press time, the Special Investigating Task Group, even as they want to resolve the case expeditiously, are constrained not only by the existing processes that should be undertaken on physical evidences but also by the non-availability of the material accounts from the survivors. Two people survived the alleged encounter but were reportedly yet in a “state of shock”. By Miriam Garcia Desacada
December 6, 2010
CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, PALO, LEYTE – Forensic expert Dr. Raquel Fortun, together with two colleagues, were here in the city this week to conduct a second autopsy on the bodies of EDC forester Sofronio Cortez and farmer Julius Borromeo.
To recall, the two were killed in an alleged crossfire last November 15 at the forests of the PNOC reservation while accompanying noted botanist Dr. Leonard Co who was doing a biodiversity survey and who was also killed. Co’s body was already examined by Fortun on the family’s request before flying over.
The noted forensic expert also attended a 3-day seminar on forensics training for homicide investigators of the police in the region, held at the Baybayon ni Agalon.
In a related development, the initial fact-finding report by the chairman of the Special Investigation Task Group Sr. Supt. John Sosito submitted to the PNP regional headquarters here dated November 23, 2010 disclosed that some 24 empty shells of 5.56mm were recovered by SOCO team at the site.
They also had the names of the soldiers involved in the incident, with data of their corresponding issued firearms for reference. The list would be helpful if the firearms issued to them are turned-over to the PNP Crime Laboratory for ballistics examination to find out whether the shells recovered match the firearms.
The 19th IB had already turned over nine high-powered firearms to the police, which in turn had been endorsed to the crime laboratory on Sunday yet, November 21.
The soldiers have also been asked to submit their affidavits and other pertinent documents in preparation for the possible filing of criminal charges, if evidences warrant.
The same initial fact-finding report revealed that during an ocular inspection and reenactment also conducted by probers together with the Commission on Human Rights, they discovered on the site more empty shells of M-16 rifle and other personal belongings and foodstuffs.
They also spotted two shells believed to be from an M203 grenade launcher but the SOCO did not touch it. Instead, they requested the Explosive Ordnance Division of PRO-8 to secure it for proper disposition.
It was learned from Supt. Rea Villavecencio, head of the PNP crime laboratory, that all pieces of evidence they gathered in the area are still to be submitted to PNP crime laboratory in Cebu for further examination.
She added that as of press time, the Special Investigating Task Group, even as they want to resolve the case expeditiously, are constrained not only by the existing processes that should be undertaken on physical evidences but also by the non-availability of the material accounts from the survivors. Two people survived the alleged encounter but were reportedly yet in a “state of shock”. By Miriam Garcia Desacada
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Widows of Other Victims in Kananga ‘Murders’ Call for Justice
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com
December 4, 2010
Nov. 15 began like any other day for the families of Julio Borromeo and Sofronio Cortez. Borromeo was even excited because his work with Leonardo Co would be his highest paying job so far. But by the afternoon of that day, the lives of their families changed forever.
KANANGA, LEYTE – It was not only Glenda Co, wife of killed botanist Leonard Co, who lost a husband when soldiers from the 19th Infantry Battalion (IB) allegedly fired at Co’s team on that fateful day of Nov. 15 while Co was conducting work inside the compound of the Lopez-owned Energy Development Corporation (EDC). Teresa Borromeo, 45 and Arsenia Cortez, 52, also lost their husbands.
In a fact-finding mission led by the progressive scientists’ group Agham held last Nov. 26 to 28 in Kananga, Leyte, the wives of the two other victims, Julio Borromeo and Sofronio Cortez, demanded justice. “We want justice. We cannot accept that they died just like that,” Arsenia said.
Teresa said she does not believe that her husband and the rest of Co’s team were caught in a gun battle between the New People’s Army (NPA) and the 19th IB. “It is impossible. All those who work for the EDC have their IDs and some have their uniforms. How could the military mistakenly identify them as NPA?” said Teresa.
Their lives were never the same again, especially for Teresa. Her husband Julio is the only breadwinner of the family and they have six children, the youngest is six years old.
For now, the EDC is supporting the family. The company gave the family sacks of rice, said Estelita Bayo, their godmother in their wedding. They live in barangay Tongonan, Ormoc, Leyte.
Sofronio, on the other hand, was a just bit well off. He was a regular employee of EDC for 26 years and worked as a forest guard. He has three children, two of whom already finished college and the youngest, 16, is already in fourth year high school. The family lives in Baybay, Ormoc City.
Nov.15 was Julio’s first day working with Co; it was also his first day to have a more gainful sideline. “His work is per job order and is not regular. His work with Dr. Co was the highest income that he would supposedly take home,” said Bayo. Julio was supposed to bring home P200 ($4.46) a day for working as assistant to Co’s team for five days.
It was an ordinary day for Julio and Policarpio Balute, a local farmer. They were fetched by Danny Vituella, an employee of EDC. Teresa said it was their usual routine whenever Borromeo would receive a job order from EDC.
“He left early in the morning, around seven o’clock. He did not even eat his breakfast. He was only wearing a T-shirt and pants with his EDC identification card. He brought his umbrella and a sack for the leaves they would supposedly gather,” Teresa said.
Sofronio, on the other hand, was wearing long sleeves polo with an EDC logo and a raincoat also with EDC logo. Arsenia said her husband was always wearing a uniform whenever he worked in the forest within the EDC complex.
The Bad News
What seemed to be an ordinary day became a day of terror.
At about 4:00 p.m. of Nov. 15, Teresa was fetched by Vituella. “He just said that there was a problem.”
Arsenia, who just recovered from sickness at that time, was fetched at about past 6:00 p.m. from their house in barangay Hilapnitan, Baybay. “We were fetched here by two EDC employees and a doctor because I just recovered from my illness at that time and they thought that I would collapse upon hearing the news.”
After two hours of traveling, Teresa saw the body of her husband at V. Rama Funeral House in Kananga. Her husband’s body had gunshots in the chest.
Arsenia arrived at Kananga hospital at about 8:00 p.m. but no one could tell her the news. “When we came, nobody said anything and they were pointing at each other. Then I just said, ‘What? Is Ponyong dead?’ Then I started crying and then we proceeded to V. Rama where his body was.”
The EDC shouldered the funeral expenses for the dead. The company also donated cash and has been giving them food supplies.
Teresa is not only grieving for the loss of her husband; she does not know how to provide for the needs of their six children. “They are pitiful, especially the children,” said Bayo, almost crying now.
Justice
Cortez’s family does not want to comment on the case. They said they would only comment when the result of the autopsy and forensic examination being conducted by pathologist Dr. Raquel del Rosario-Fortun is released. But they demand justice and said that the perpetrators should be punished.
“My husband was a kind man,” Teresa said. “We want justice. We want the perpetrators to be held accountable for killing my husband and his companions.”
Bulatlat.com
December 4, 2010
Nov. 15 began like any other day for the families of Julio Borromeo and Sofronio Cortez. Borromeo was even excited because his work with Leonardo Co would be his highest paying job so far. But by the afternoon of that day, the lives of their families changed forever.
KANANGA, LEYTE – It was not only Glenda Co, wife of killed botanist Leonard Co, who lost a husband when soldiers from the 19th Infantry Battalion (IB) allegedly fired at Co’s team on that fateful day of Nov. 15 while Co was conducting work inside the compound of the Lopez-owned Energy Development Corporation (EDC). Teresa Borromeo, 45 and Arsenia Cortez, 52, also lost their husbands.
In a fact-finding mission led by the progressive scientists’ group Agham held last Nov. 26 to 28 in Kananga, Leyte, the wives of the two other victims, Julio Borromeo and Sofronio Cortez, demanded justice. “We want justice. We cannot accept that they died just like that,” Arsenia said.
Teresa said she does not believe that her husband and the rest of Co’s team were caught in a gun battle between the New People’s Army (NPA) and the 19th IB. “It is impossible. All those who work for the EDC have their IDs and some have their uniforms. How could the military mistakenly identify them as NPA?” said Teresa.
Their lives were never the same again, especially for Teresa. Her husband Julio is the only breadwinner of the family and they have six children, the youngest is six years old.
For now, the EDC is supporting the family. The company gave the family sacks of rice, said Estelita Bayo, their godmother in their wedding. They live in barangay Tongonan, Ormoc, Leyte.
Sofronio, on the other hand, was a just bit well off. He was a regular employee of EDC for 26 years and worked as a forest guard. He has three children, two of whom already finished college and the youngest, 16, is already in fourth year high school. The family lives in Baybay, Ormoc City.
Nov.15 was Julio’s first day working with Co; it was also his first day to have a more gainful sideline. “His work is per job order and is not regular. His work with Dr. Co was the highest income that he would supposedly take home,” said Bayo. Julio was supposed to bring home P200 ($4.46) a day for working as assistant to Co’s team for five days.
It was an ordinary day for Julio and Policarpio Balute, a local farmer. They were fetched by Danny Vituella, an employee of EDC. Teresa said it was their usual routine whenever Borromeo would receive a job order from EDC.
“He left early in the morning, around seven o’clock. He did not even eat his breakfast. He was only wearing a T-shirt and pants with his EDC identification card. He brought his umbrella and a sack for the leaves they would supposedly gather,” Teresa said.
Sofronio, on the other hand, was wearing long sleeves polo with an EDC logo and a raincoat also with EDC logo. Arsenia said her husband was always wearing a uniform whenever he worked in the forest within the EDC complex.
The Bad News
What seemed to be an ordinary day became a day of terror.
At about 4:00 p.m. of Nov. 15, Teresa was fetched by Vituella. “He just said that there was a problem.”
Arsenia, who just recovered from sickness at that time, was fetched at about past 6:00 p.m. from their house in barangay Hilapnitan, Baybay. “We were fetched here by two EDC employees and a doctor because I just recovered from my illness at that time and they thought that I would collapse upon hearing the news.”
After two hours of traveling, Teresa saw the body of her husband at V. Rama Funeral House in Kananga. Her husband’s body had gunshots in the chest.
Arsenia arrived at Kananga hospital at about 8:00 p.m. but no one could tell her the news. “When we came, nobody said anything and they were pointing at each other. Then I just said, ‘What? Is Ponyong dead?’ Then I started crying and then we proceeded to V. Rama where his body was.”
The EDC shouldered the funeral expenses for the dead. The company also donated cash and has been giving them food supplies.
Teresa is not only grieving for the loss of her husband; she does not know how to provide for the needs of their six children. “They are pitiful, especially the children,” said Bayo, almost crying now.
Justice
Cortez’s family does not want to comment on the case. They said they would only comment when the result of the autopsy and forensic examination being conducted by pathologist Dr. Raquel del Rosario-Fortun is released. But they demand justice and said that the perpetrators should be punished.
“My husband was a kind man,” Teresa said. “We want justice. We want the perpetrators to be held accountable for killing my husband and his companions.”
Friday, December 3, 2010
Slain botanist’s wife seeks NBI help
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 12/03/2010
MANILA, Philippines – The wife of one of the country’s top botanists who was killed in a purported crossfire between government troops and communist rebels in Leyte province sought the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) help on Thursday.
Glenda Co, wife of Dr. Leonard Co, is seeking justice for the death of her husband.
She was accompanied to the NBI headquarters by lawyer Evalyn Ursua.
Aside from Co, his aides Sofronio Cortez and Julius Borromeo were also killed during the November 15 incident.
The Department of Justice earlier launched a fact-finding investigation on the botanist’s death.
The fact-finding panel is composed of Assistant State Prosecutors Diosdado B. Solidum and Bryan Jacinto S. Cacha of the National Prosecution Service, and Atty. Romulo Asis, chief of the NBI death investigation division.
The 56-year old Co, a specialist in plant taxonomy and ethnobotany, was in the area collecting specimens for a reforestation project for the Lopez-owned Energy Development Corp. (EDC), which hired him as consultant. He was also president of the Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society, Inc.
Cortez was a forest guard of EDC while Borromeo was a member of the Tongonan Farmers Association. EDC operates power plants in Leyte.
The Armed Forces' Central Command (CentCom) said soldiers of the Army's 19th Infantry Battalion clashed with at least 8 NPA rebels during a security operation in the vicinity of EDC compound in Kananga.
The military and the police are conducting a separate investigation into the possible violation of military regulations in said incident.
Posted at 12/03/2010
MANILA, Philippines – The wife of one of the country’s top botanists who was killed in a purported crossfire between government troops and communist rebels in Leyte province sought the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) help on Thursday.
Glenda Co, wife of Dr. Leonard Co, is seeking justice for the death of her husband.
She was accompanied to the NBI headquarters by lawyer Evalyn Ursua.
Aside from Co, his aides Sofronio Cortez and Julius Borromeo were also killed during the November 15 incident.
The Department of Justice earlier launched a fact-finding investigation on the botanist’s death.
The fact-finding panel is composed of Assistant State Prosecutors Diosdado B. Solidum and Bryan Jacinto S. Cacha of the National Prosecution Service, and Atty. Romulo Asis, chief of the NBI death investigation division.
The 56-year old Co, a specialist in plant taxonomy and ethnobotany, was in the area collecting specimens for a reforestation project for the Lopez-owned Energy Development Corp. (EDC), which hired him as consultant. He was also president of the Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society, Inc.
Cortez was a forest guard of EDC while Borromeo was a member of the Tongonan Farmers Association. EDC operates power plants in Leyte.
The Armed Forces' Central Command (CentCom) said soldiers of the Army's 19th Infantry Battalion clashed with at least 8 NPA rebels during a security operation in the vicinity of EDC compound in Kananga.
The military and the police are conducting a separate investigation into the possible violation of military regulations in said incident.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Tribute paid to Leonard Co’s memory
By MANNY LOSTE
www.nordis.net
BAGUIO CITY — Friends and colleagues of the late Leonard Co from the academe and the non-government organization (NGO) community here came together noontime of November 25 at the Bulwagang Juan Luna, UP Baguio to pay tribute to his life and contribution to his field of specialization and the effort to promote grassroots based scientific knowledge.
The noted botanist was once enrolled at the UP Baguio during the mid 1980s for an undergraduate course in science. He never finished all the academic requirements for a bachelors’ degree as he spent large part of his time doing field research work eventually coming up with the book “Common Medicinal Plants in the Cordillera” even as an undergraduate.
In fact, it was only in 2008 that Leonard Co was granted a bachelor’s degree in science by UP Diliman in recognition of his field work and research contribution which could have easily earned him a doctorate degree. His students admired his passion and dedication to his field of specialization, learning much from his knowledge as well as his exemplary attitude in scientific study.
The people with whom he worked with remember his work style which somehow reflected the activist’s attitude in him of being “insatiable in learning and tireless in teaching.” He was a veritable walking encyclopedia of botanical knowledge which he sought to share with those around him at every possible opportunity.
Even as he did so, he sought out the old medicine men in the the Cordillera to learn from their rich reservoir of traditional knowledge of medicinal plants. This knowledge was eventually distilled and published in the works of Leonard Co, making them accessible to a wider audience of interested researchers and practitioners.
On hand to acknowledge the tribute paid to the memory of the late Leonard Co were his parents and siblings as well as his wife Glenda. They expressed gratitude for the fond memories shared by Leonard’s friends and colleagues here in the Cordillera while expressing the fervent hope that justice will be done to Leonard Co and his companions.
Co together with two of his guides were gunned down last November 15 in a forested area in Hinanga, Leyte while doing field work for a Lopez-owned company. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) claims that the noted botanist and his companions were killed in a crossfire in an encounter with New People’s Army (NPA). Doubts have been raised regarding the AFP’s facile claim of death by crossfire. Thus the Department of Justice (DoJ) has formed a task force to dig deeper into the untimely death of Co and his companions. # nordis.net
www.nordis.net
BAGUIO CITY — Friends and colleagues of the late Leonard Co from the academe and the non-government organization (NGO) community here came together noontime of November 25 at the Bulwagang Juan Luna, UP Baguio to pay tribute to his life and contribution to his field of specialization and the effort to promote grassroots based scientific knowledge.
The noted botanist was once enrolled at the UP Baguio during the mid 1980s for an undergraduate course in science. He never finished all the academic requirements for a bachelors’ degree as he spent large part of his time doing field research work eventually coming up with the book “Common Medicinal Plants in the Cordillera” even as an undergraduate.
In fact, it was only in 2008 that Leonard Co was granted a bachelor’s degree in science by UP Diliman in recognition of his field work and research contribution which could have easily earned him a doctorate degree. His students admired his passion and dedication to his field of specialization, learning much from his knowledge as well as his exemplary attitude in scientific study.
The people with whom he worked with remember his work style which somehow reflected the activist’s attitude in him of being “insatiable in learning and tireless in teaching.” He was a veritable walking encyclopedia of botanical knowledge which he sought to share with those around him at every possible opportunity.
Even as he did so, he sought out the old medicine men in the the Cordillera to learn from their rich reservoir of traditional knowledge of medicinal plants. This knowledge was eventually distilled and published in the works of Leonard Co, making them accessible to a wider audience of interested researchers and practitioners.
On hand to acknowledge the tribute paid to the memory of the late Leonard Co were his parents and siblings as well as his wife Glenda. They expressed gratitude for the fond memories shared by Leonard’s friends and colleagues here in the Cordillera while expressing the fervent hope that justice will be done to Leonard Co and his companions.
Co together with two of his guides were gunned down last November 15 in a forested area in Hinanga, Leyte while doing field work for a Lopez-owned company. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) claims that the noted botanist and his companions were killed in a crossfire in an encounter with New People’s Army (NPA). Doubts have been raised regarding the AFP’s facile claim of death by crossfire. Thus the Department of Justice (DoJ) has formed a task force to dig deeper into the untimely death of Co and his companions. # nordis.net
Friday, November 26, 2010
Investigators set out to probe botanist’s death
UCAnews.com
Published Date: November 26, 2010
By D'Jay Lazaro, Manila
An independent fact-finding team endorsed by the family of killed botanist Leonardo Co, left Manila today for the province of Leyte in the central Philippines to investigate the scientist’s death.
Several civil society and human rights groups joined the mission.
“We welcome Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s order to probe the death… We acknowledge her leadership and independence in the investigation of cases,” said Dr. Giovanni Tapang of the “Justice for Leonard Co Movement.”
Tapang, however, said his group invokes their right “to seek, receive and impart information on the circumstances of what we believe is another senseless killing of our brothers in a very harmless act of field research.”
Co was commissioned by the Energy Development Corp. (EDC) to carry out research in the forests of Leyte when government troops allegedly shot Co and his companions.
Forest guard Sofronio Cortez and farmer Julius Borromeo were killed with Co, the 36th environmentalist killed since 2001 and the eighth for 2010.
Survivors Policarpio Balute, a farmer, and Roniño Gibe, a forest guard, said there was no encounter between soldiers and communist rebels as claimed by the military.
“The significance of our independent mission is to uncover the facts for ourselves and provide a citizen-based account of what happened and preempt possible attempts to whitewash the case,” said Tapang.
He said they cannot just wait for the government to give justice to the victims and their families.
Published Date: November 26, 2010
By D'Jay Lazaro, Manila
An independent fact-finding team endorsed by the family of killed botanist Leonardo Co, left Manila today for the province of Leyte in the central Philippines to investigate the scientist’s death.
Several civil society and human rights groups joined the mission.
“We welcome Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s order to probe the death… We acknowledge her leadership and independence in the investigation of cases,” said Dr. Giovanni Tapang of the “Justice for Leonard Co Movement.”
Tapang, however, said his group invokes their right “to seek, receive and impart information on the circumstances of what we believe is another senseless killing of our brothers in a very harmless act of field research.”
Co was commissioned by the Energy Development Corp. (EDC) to carry out research in the forests of Leyte when government troops allegedly shot Co and his companions.
Forest guard Sofronio Cortez and farmer Julius Borromeo were killed with Co, the 36th environmentalist killed since 2001 and the eighth for 2010.
Survivors Policarpio Balute, a farmer, and Roniño Gibe, a forest guard, said there was no encounter between soldiers and communist rebels as claimed by the military.
“The significance of our independent mission is to uncover the facts for ourselves and provide a citizen-based account of what happened and preempt possible attempts to whitewash the case,” said Tapang.
He said they cannot just wait for the government to give justice to the victims and their families.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
De Lima orders probe of botanist’s death
By Marlon Ramos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 17:43:00 11/24/2010
MANILA, Philippines -- Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Wednesday ordered an investigation into the mystery surrounding the death of noted botanist Leonardo Co and two others in Kananga, Leyte, last week.
Authorities earlier said Co and two of his companions were caught in crossfire between communist rebels and government soldiers in a forested area in Kananga town.
In a department order, De Lima created a three-member panel of Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors to conduct a fact-finding inquiry on the incident.
“We can’t always leave (the investigation) to the (Armed Forces of the Philippines). No matter how they do their jobs, there will always be suspicions,” she said at the sidelines of the 7th national congress of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines in Quezon City.
According to De Lima, the panel may summon personalities, including Armed Forces officials, to attend hearings and answer clarificatory questions.
“We need to remove the cloud of suspicions regarding Co’s death,” she said.
A biodiversity consultant of the Lopez-owned Energy Development Corp., Co was reportedly gathering tree samples when he and two of his four companions were shot.
The New People’s Army and the Armed Forces in Leyte had accused each other of firing the shots that killed Co and his companions.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 17:43:00 11/24/2010
MANILA, Philippines -- Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Wednesday ordered an investigation into the mystery surrounding the death of noted botanist Leonardo Co and two others in Kananga, Leyte, last week.
Authorities earlier said Co and two of his companions were caught in crossfire between communist rebels and government soldiers in a forested area in Kananga town.
In a department order, De Lima created a three-member panel of Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors to conduct a fact-finding inquiry on the incident.
“We can’t always leave (the investigation) to the (Armed Forces of the Philippines). No matter how they do their jobs, there will always be suspicions,” she said at the sidelines of the 7th national congress of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines in Quezon City.
According to De Lima, the panel may summon personalities, including Armed Forces officials, to attend hearings and answer clarificatory questions.
“We need to remove the cloud of suspicions regarding Co’s death,” she said.
A biodiversity consultant of the Lopez-owned Energy Development Corp., Co was reportedly gathering tree samples when he and two of his four companions were shot.
The New People’s Army and the Armed Forces in Leyte had accused each other of firing the shots that killed Co and his companions.
UP forensic experts to autopsy slain botanist’s companions
By Elvie Roman-Roa
Inquirer Visayas
First Posted 12:21:00 11/24/2010
ORMOC CITY, Philippines – University of the Philippines forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun performed autopsies on the companions of botanist Leonard Co who the military claimed died in the crossfire of a skirmish between government security forces and communist rebels in Leyte last November 15.
Fortun, assisted by Dr. Maria Cecilia Lim and Dr. Reynaldo Dizon of UP, had been tasked to examine the cadavers Energy Development Corp. (EDC) forest guard Sofronio Cortez and farmer Julio Borromeo as part of the joint undertaking of the Commission on Human Rights, the EDC and the UP.
In an interview late Tuesday evening, Fortun said she had requested for X-ray examinations on the bodies of Cortez and Borromeo to pinpoint the exact location of the bullets.
There were 12 X-ray scans taken of Cortez's body and another 10 on Borromeo's at the Ormoc District Hospital Tuesday morning.
The bodies of Cortez and Borromeo were temporarily taken from their wake in their homes in Barangay (village) Halacnitan, Baybay, Leyte and Barangay Tongonan, Ormoc City, respectively, for the forensic autopsies.
Fortun said the autopsies, which was conducted at the V. Rama Funeral Homes, began at 2:30 p.m. and were completed at 7:30 p.m.
She declined to give her findings, however, saying more investigation was to be done.
Fortun said the X-ray scans helped them a lot and that without these, they would have had difficulty in finding the bullets in the bodies of Cortez and Borromeo.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Army 19th Infantry Battalion surrendered nine firearms to the Kananga police station at 6:35 p.m. Saturday, according to the police blotter.
Corporal Nelson Solayao, 19th IB’s supply officer, was the one who surrendered the firearms to the police.
The Kananga police had asked the battalion commander to turn over the firearms used by the soldiers who figured in the alleged encounter with the New People's Army that resulted in the death of Co, Cortez and Borromeo in Barangay (village) Lim-ao, Kananga.
The nine firearms, all M-16 with one of them equipped with a grenade launcher, will be taken to the Philippine National Police regional laboratory in Tacloban City gunpowder residue test and ballistic examination.
Inquirer Visayas
First Posted 12:21:00 11/24/2010
ORMOC CITY, Philippines – University of the Philippines forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun performed autopsies on the companions of botanist Leonard Co who the military claimed died in the crossfire of a skirmish between government security forces and communist rebels in Leyte last November 15.
Fortun, assisted by Dr. Maria Cecilia Lim and Dr. Reynaldo Dizon of UP, had been tasked to examine the cadavers Energy Development Corp. (EDC) forest guard Sofronio Cortez and farmer Julio Borromeo as part of the joint undertaking of the Commission on Human Rights, the EDC and the UP.
In an interview late Tuesday evening, Fortun said she had requested for X-ray examinations on the bodies of Cortez and Borromeo to pinpoint the exact location of the bullets.
There were 12 X-ray scans taken of Cortez's body and another 10 on Borromeo's at the Ormoc District Hospital Tuesday morning.
The bodies of Cortez and Borromeo were temporarily taken from their wake in their homes in Barangay (village) Halacnitan, Baybay, Leyte and Barangay Tongonan, Ormoc City, respectively, for the forensic autopsies.
Fortun said the autopsies, which was conducted at the V. Rama Funeral Homes, began at 2:30 p.m. and were completed at 7:30 p.m.
She declined to give her findings, however, saying more investigation was to be done.
Fortun said the X-ray scans helped them a lot and that without these, they would have had difficulty in finding the bullets in the bodies of Cortez and Borromeo.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Army 19th Infantry Battalion surrendered nine firearms to the Kananga police station at 6:35 p.m. Saturday, according to the police blotter.
Corporal Nelson Solayao, 19th IB’s supply officer, was the one who surrendered the firearms to the police.
The Kananga police had asked the battalion commander to turn over the firearms used by the soldiers who figured in the alleged encounter with the New People's Army that resulted in the death of Co, Cortez and Borromeo in Barangay (village) Lim-ao, Kananga.
The nine firearms, all M-16 with one of them equipped with a grenade launcher, will be taken to the Philippine National Police regional laboratory in Tacloban City gunpowder residue test and ballistic examination.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Independent group to probe death of botanist Leonardo Co
Remate Tonight
November 23, 2010
A CITIZEN-BASED fact-finding mission has been organized in Kananga, Leyte to investigate the killings of botanist Leonard Co and his companions.
The mission will “establish the facts about the incident,” said Dr. Giovanni Tapang, chairperson of the Samahan ng Nagtataguyod ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Sambayanan or AGHAM and convener of Justice for Leonard Co! campaign.
According to Tapang, claims of crossfire have left a “host of questions” to Co’s families and friends.
Co and his two companions were part of a biodiversity research team fielded by the Energy Development Corporation to study the Mahawan-Kananga watershed.
The Philippine Army 19th Battalion claimed that the team was caught in a crossfire between members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and government forces last November 15.
“In this time, where we have a case like the one-year old Ampatuan massacre still unresolved, we need to be able to get the real facts and soon. We also plan to look at the situation of the survivors and the victims’ families,” said Tapang .
Meanwhile, Frances Quimpo, executive director of the Center for Environment Concerns, criticized the government for its alleged failure to immediately look into the cause of the incident.
“More than a week has passed since Leonard’s killing, but until now, there is no conclusive report from the government, either from the municipal police or the National Bureau of Investigation,” said Quimpo.
According to news reports, the survivors belied the report of the military on its firefight with NPA rebels.
According to survivors, they did not encounter any rebels in the area and the gunfire that they heard came from only one direction. D’Jay Lazaro
November 23, 2010
A CITIZEN-BASED fact-finding mission has been organized in Kananga, Leyte to investigate the killings of botanist Leonard Co and his companions.
The mission will “establish the facts about the incident,” said Dr. Giovanni Tapang, chairperson of the Samahan ng Nagtataguyod ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Sambayanan or AGHAM and convener of Justice for Leonard Co! campaign.
According to Tapang, claims of crossfire have left a “host of questions” to Co’s families and friends.
Co and his two companions were part of a biodiversity research team fielded by the Energy Development Corporation to study the Mahawan-Kananga watershed.
The Philippine Army 19th Battalion claimed that the team was caught in a crossfire between members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and government forces last November 15.
“In this time, where we have a case like the one-year old Ampatuan massacre still unresolved, we need to be able to get the real facts and soon. We also plan to look at the situation of the survivors and the victims’ families,” said Tapang .
Meanwhile, Frances Quimpo, executive director of the Center for Environment Concerns, criticized the government for its alleged failure to immediately look into the cause of the incident.
“More than a week has passed since Leonard’s killing, but until now, there is no conclusive report from the government, either from the municipal police or the National Bureau of Investigation,” said Quimpo.
According to news reports, the survivors belied the report of the military on its firefight with NPA rebels.
According to survivors, they did not encounter any rebels in the area and the gunfire that they heard came from only one direction. D’Jay Lazaro
Monday, November 22, 2010
PNP backs Army on botanist’s death
Anthony Vargas
Dateline.ph
Posted on 22 Nov 2010 at 6:17pm
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is backing the military’s claim that leading Filipino botanist Leonardo Co and two companions died after they were caught in the crossfire as soldiers clashed with communist rebels in Leyte last week.
PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said forensic investigators from the Eastern Visayas regional police office have reconstructed the crime scene and their “initial investigation showed that there (was the) presence of NPA (New People’s Army) rebels and according to the witnesses there was an exchange of gunfire.”
He added that investigators had recovered from the scene of the incident shells of still unknown caliber that did not come from soldiers’ weapons.
“There are witnesses who said that there was exchange of fire and aside from the fact that from the initial reconstructions, they have recovered some shells that (are) not in the inventory of the AFP,” Cruz said.
“Our intention here is to have a comprehensive and transparent investigation and so that we can pinpoint from where or who really shot the UP botanist,” he said. “What they (investigators) are now doing is conducting paraffin test to all of the participating elements from the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and of course all of their firearms will be subjected to ballistic exams so we can find out . . . where the bullets came from.”
The PNP spokesman said troops of the Army’s 19th Infantry Battalion (IB) who were sent to check on reported rebel presence in the area of the incident were unaware the five-man research team Co was leading was in the area.
“That is what (is) coming out from our initial investigation, that they (did not) know that somebody (was) conducting research in that place,” Cruz said.
But he stressed that investigators intend to take the accounts of all possible witnesses and analyze all the evidence collected.
“Those that will be found liable (for the death of Co), we will charge them with criminal cases aside from their liability under the Articles of War, but on our part we will be the one that will file the criminal complaint,” Cruz said.
The Army maintains Co, forest guard Sofronio Cortez and farmer Julius Borromeo died when they were caught in the clash in the forests of Kananga town last November 15.
Dateline.ph
Posted on 22 Nov 2010 at 6:17pm
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is backing the military’s claim that leading Filipino botanist Leonardo Co and two companions died after they were caught in the crossfire as soldiers clashed with communist rebels in Leyte last week.
PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said forensic investigators from the Eastern Visayas regional police office have reconstructed the crime scene and their “initial investigation showed that there (was the) presence of NPA (New People’s Army) rebels and according to the witnesses there was an exchange of gunfire.”
He added that investigators had recovered from the scene of the incident shells of still unknown caliber that did not come from soldiers’ weapons.
“There are witnesses who said that there was exchange of fire and aside from the fact that from the initial reconstructions, they have recovered some shells that (are) not in the inventory of the AFP,” Cruz said.
“Our intention here is to have a comprehensive and transparent investigation and so that we can pinpoint from where or who really shot the UP botanist,” he said. “What they (investigators) are now doing is conducting paraffin test to all of the participating elements from the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and of course all of their firearms will be subjected to ballistic exams so we can find out . . . where the bullets came from.”
The PNP spokesman said troops of the Army’s 19th Infantry Battalion (IB) who were sent to check on reported rebel presence in the area of the incident were unaware the five-man research team Co was leading was in the area.
“That is what (is) coming out from our initial investigation, that they (did not) know that somebody (was) conducting research in that place,” Cruz said.
But he stressed that investigators intend to take the accounts of all possible witnesses and analyze all the evidence collected.
“Those that will be found liable (for the death of Co), we will charge them with criminal cases aside from their liability under the Articles of War, but on our part we will be the one that will file the criminal complaint,” Cruz said.
The Army maintains Co, forest guard Sofronio Cortez and farmer Julius Borromeo died when they were caught in the clash in the forests of Kananga town last November 15.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Slain farmers’ kin seek probe
By Joey A. Gabieta
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:38:00 11/21/2010
ORMOC CITY, Philippines—The families of two farmers who died along with botanist Leonardo Co on Nov. 15 in the forest of Kananga town are seeking an impartial investigation to find out who were really responsible for their deaths.
Whether they were caught in a crossfire or were mistaken for rebels by soldiers, the truth should be known in order that the killers could be brought to justice, said Teresita, widow of farmer Julio Borromeo, 50, one of the farmers.
“Whoever were responsible have to be punished. They killed my husband as if he were a pig. There was a big hole in his chest,” the 45-year-old widow said in an interview at her house in Tongonan, Ormoc on Thursday.
Arsenia, widow of Sofronio Cortez, 50, for her part disclosed that she could not even look at her husband lying in the coffin at the wake held at their home in Barangay Hilapnitan, Baybay, Leyte.
Senseless death
Arsenia said that she still could not accept that her husband died so senselessly.
“I am still confused about what happened to my husband and his group. I really don’t know. But we are seeking justice for his death. Up to now, I don’t have the strength to see his (dead) body lying in the coffin,” the widow said on Saturday.
Borromeo and Cortez will both be buried on Wednesday, Cortez at the Catholic cemetery in Baybay and Borromeo in Ormoc City.
Borromeo left six young children. Cortez had three children with ages ranging from 16 years to 23 years old.
Teresita said she could not believe that their six young children lost their father in such a manner. “On that day, he left our house at around 6 in the morning. And by 7 p.m., I was expecting him to return. But it never happened,” she said.
Borromeo, a member of the Tongonan Farmers Association, hired by the Energy Development Corp. (EDC) to plant trees, was assigned by EDC along with Cortez, an EDC forest guard, and two others to assist Co in documenting the tree specimens in the forest in Kananga adjoining the EDC-run Tongonan geothermal power plants.
Bursts of gunfire
Co and his team were in a forested area of Barangay Limao and were exchanging jokes just minutes before they were fired upon, according to one of the two survivors, Policarpio Balute, 33.
“During that time, we kept on cracking jokes to doc’s (Co) amusement. It was raining. Then suddenly, we heard successive bursts of gunfire. The doctor asked us all to lie down on the ground so we would not be hit,” Balute told the Inquirer on Thursday.
“He (Co) kept on shouting that the firing should be stopped. He was shouting repeatedly, ‘Sir, please stop. Have mercy on us. We are not enemies.’”
“But they never stopped. The burst of gunfire was so deafening and in rapid succession, similar to firecrackers exploding moments before the New Year,” Balute added.
Balute, however, could not say whom Co was referring to as “sir.”
“I saw the doctor, raising his both hands, crying, pleading for them to stop firing at us. But his pleadings were ignored by them as they kept on firing towards our direction,” added Balute.
Spared by men in uniform
Balute said he was able to slither away from the range of fire and ran fast for over an hour until he reached the EDC office. He reported the incident to the company’s chief security officer, Jojo Pascual.
The other survivor, Niño Gibe, was inside the group’s service vehicle parked some 90 meters away from the scene. He was spared by some men in camouflage uniform, Balute claimed.
Balute also said he had no idea if there were New People’s Army (NPA) fighters in the area. “At that time, we were the only people there,” said Balute.
The 19th Infantry Battalion claimed that a firefight with rebels led to the death of Co, Borromeo and Cortez.
The bodies of Co, Cortez and Borromeo were retrieved hours later from the site and placed in a truck. They were first brought to the Kananga police station, then to the Kananga Community Hospital and finally at the V. Rama Funeral Homes in Ormoc City.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:38:00 11/21/2010
ORMOC CITY, Philippines—The families of two farmers who died along with botanist Leonardo Co on Nov. 15 in the forest of Kananga town are seeking an impartial investigation to find out who were really responsible for their deaths.
Whether they were caught in a crossfire or were mistaken for rebels by soldiers, the truth should be known in order that the killers could be brought to justice, said Teresita, widow of farmer Julio Borromeo, 50, one of the farmers.
“Whoever were responsible have to be punished. They killed my husband as if he were a pig. There was a big hole in his chest,” the 45-year-old widow said in an interview at her house in Tongonan, Ormoc on Thursday.
Arsenia, widow of Sofronio Cortez, 50, for her part disclosed that she could not even look at her husband lying in the coffin at the wake held at their home in Barangay Hilapnitan, Baybay, Leyte.
Senseless death
Arsenia said that she still could not accept that her husband died so senselessly.
“I am still confused about what happened to my husband and his group. I really don’t know. But we are seeking justice for his death. Up to now, I don’t have the strength to see his (dead) body lying in the coffin,” the widow said on Saturday.
Borromeo and Cortez will both be buried on Wednesday, Cortez at the Catholic cemetery in Baybay and Borromeo in Ormoc City.
Borromeo left six young children. Cortez had three children with ages ranging from 16 years to 23 years old.
Teresita said she could not believe that their six young children lost their father in such a manner. “On that day, he left our house at around 6 in the morning. And by 7 p.m., I was expecting him to return. But it never happened,” she said.
Borromeo, a member of the Tongonan Farmers Association, hired by the Energy Development Corp. (EDC) to plant trees, was assigned by EDC along with Cortez, an EDC forest guard, and two others to assist Co in documenting the tree specimens in the forest in Kananga adjoining the EDC-run Tongonan geothermal power plants.
Bursts of gunfire
Co and his team were in a forested area of Barangay Limao and were exchanging jokes just minutes before they were fired upon, according to one of the two survivors, Policarpio Balute, 33.
“During that time, we kept on cracking jokes to doc’s (Co) amusement. It was raining. Then suddenly, we heard successive bursts of gunfire. The doctor asked us all to lie down on the ground so we would not be hit,” Balute told the Inquirer on Thursday.
“He (Co) kept on shouting that the firing should be stopped. He was shouting repeatedly, ‘Sir, please stop. Have mercy on us. We are not enemies.’”
“But they never stopped. The burst of gunfire was so deafening and in rapid succession, similar to firecrackers exploding moments before the New Year,” Balute added.
Balute, however, could not say whom Co was referring to as “sir.”
“I saw the doctor, raising his both hands, crying, pleading for them to stop firing at us. But his pleadings were ignored by them as they kept on firing towards our direction,” added Balute.
Spared by men in uniform
Balute said he was able to slither away from the range of fire and ran fast for over an hour until he reached the EDC office. He reported the incident to the company’s chief security officer, Jojo Pascual.
The other survivor, Niño Gibe, was inside the group’s service vehicle parked some 90 meters away from the scene. He was spared by some men in camouflage uniform, Balute claimed.
Balute also said he had no idea if there were New People’s Army (NPA) fighters in the area. “At that time, we were the only people there,” said Balute.
The 19th Infantry Battalion claimed that a firefight with rebels led to the death of Co, Borromeo and Cortez.
The bodies of Co, Cortez and Borromeo were retrieved hours later from the site and placed in a truck. They were first brought to the Kananga police station, then to the Kananga Community Hospital and finally at the V. Rama Funeral Homes in Ormoc City.
Botanist’s case not isolated, says health group
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:05:00 11/21/2010
BAGUIO CITY—The Community Health Education, Services and Training in the Cordillera Region (Chestcore) said the death of botanist Leonardo Co, who was killed in a supposed crossfire between government troops and communist rebels in a Leyte forest on Nov. 15 was not an isolated case.
Chestcore, in a statement, said many health professionals working in remote communities have been accused of aiding or being members of the New People’s Army or the Communist Party of the Philippines.
“Instead of being lauded as heroes for choosing to devote their lives to community service and for opting to give up opportunities for career advancement abroad or in private practice, many of them have been harassed, arrested on false pretenses and even killed,” it said.
Co was a staff member of Chestcore in the 1980s. His work in the Cordilleras involved helping communities systematize the knowledge of traditional healers about medicinal plants for their own primary health care.
“It is unfortunate that [Co’s] ... service to the people was suddenly cut short by a few minutes of gunfire. We strongly condemn the killing of [Co] and two of his [companions] in the hands of the [military]. We demand that justice be served and those responsible not be allowed to hide behind the guise that [Co] and his companions were ‘caught in [a] crossfire,’” the group said.
As a former staff member of the Baguio City-based Chestcore Co since 1981 had helped list 122 medicinal plants in the region with their scientific and common names.
Co updated his list and in 1989, in collaboration with the Chestcore, published the book, “Common Medicinal Plants in the Cordillera Region: A Trainor’s Manual for Community-Based Health Programs.” The book was primarily designed to help communities tap their traditional medicinal plants to treat some common diseases without relying too much on prescription drugs, which are not readily available.
Chestcore said, aside from Co, many health professionals have been abused and harassed because of “red tagging.”
It cited as examples the killing of Dr. Bobby de la Paz in Samar and Dr. Juan “Johnny” Escandor in Bicol, the attempted assassination of Dr. Chandu Claver in Kalinga and the continued detention of the 43 health workers arrested in Morong, Rizal, early this year.
Co, his former colleagues said, practiced “science ... for the people.”
“He patiently interviewed elders and traditional healers, learning local culture and traditions. Drawing on his knowledge and skills, he recorded and systematized the people’s collective knowledge and practice on medicinal plants.
He did not use this body of work for his personal career or economic advancement but offered it back for the communities’ benefit and use,” Chestcore said.
Co, it said, helped build community-based health programs among indigenous communities in Mt. Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Abra and Kalinga. He travelled through dangerous mountain terrain to reach and serve remote communities that seemed to have been neglected by government, the group said. Desiree Caluza, Inquirer Northern Luzon
First Posted 20:05:00 11/21/2010
BAGUIO CITY—The Community Health Education, Services and Training in the Cordillera Region (Chestcore) said the death of botanist Leonardo Co, who was killed in a supposed crossfire between government troops and communist rebels in a Leyte forest on Nov. 15 was not an isolated case.
Chestcore, in a statement, said many health professionals working in remote communities have been accused of aiding or being members of the New People’s Army or the Communist Party of the Philippines.
“Instead of being lauded as heroes for choosing to devote their lives to community service and for opting to give up opportunities for career advancement abroad or in private practice, many of them have been harassed, arrested on false pretenses and even killed,” it said.
Co was a staff member of Chestcore in the 1980s. His work in the Cordilleras involved helping communities systematize the knowledge of traditional healers about medicinal plants for their own primary health care.
“It is unfortunate that [Co’s] ... service to the people was suddenly cut short by a few minutes of gunfire. We strongly condemn the killing of [Co] and two of his [companions] in the hands of the [military]. We demand that justice be served and those responsible not be allowed to hide behind the guise that [Co] and his companions were ‘caught in [a] crossfire,’” the group said.
As a former staff member of the Baguio City-based Chestcore Co since 1981 had helped list 122 medicinal plants in the region with their scientific and common names.
Co updated his list and in 1989, in collaboration with the Chestcore, published the book, “Common Medicinal Plants in the Cordillera Region: A Trainor’s Manual for Community-Based Health Programs.” The book was primarily designed to help communities tap their traditional medicinal plants to treat some common diseases without relying too much on prescription drugs, which are not readily available.
Chestcore said, aside from Co, many health professionals have been abused and harassed because of “red tagging.”
It cited as examples the killing of Dr. Bobby de la Paz in Samar and Dr. Juan “Johnny” Escandor in Bicol, the attempted assassination of Dr. Chandu Claver in Kalinga and the continued detention of the 43 health workers arrested in Morong, Rizal, early this year.
Co, his former colleagues said, practiced “science ... for the people.”
“He patiently interviewed elders and traditional healers, learning local culture and traditions. Drawing on his knowledge and skills, he recorded and systematized the people’s collective knowledge and practice on medicinal plants.
He did not use this body of work for his personal career or economic advancement but offered it back for the communities’ benefit and use,” Chestcore said.
Co, it said, helped build community-based health programs among indigenous communities in Mt. Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Abra and Kalinga. He travelled through dangerous mountain terrain to reach and serve remote communities that seemed to have been neglected by government, the group said. Desiree Caluza, Inquirer Northern Luzon
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