3 civilians killed in Kananga town clash

Sun Star Tacloban
Sunstar.com.ph
November 17, 2010

CATBALOGAN, Samar -- Military officials expressed their remorse on the death of three civilians during an encounter in a forested village of Kananga town Monday afternoon.

One of the victims was identified as Leonard Co, who is said to be a botanist and consultant on the "Binhi Project" of the Energy Development Corporation (EDC).

Also killed in the crossfire were Sofronio Cortez, a forest guard, and farmer Julius Borromeo.

Soldiers led by Lieutenant Ronald Ocheamar and the 19th Infantry Battalion based in Barangay Aguiting, Kananga were in Sitio Upper Mahiao of Barangay Lim-ao following reports about the presence of armed men believed to be New People's Army rebels.

The soldiers figured in a 15-minute firefight with about seven armed men in the area.

But during the 12:15 p.m. firefight, the three victims were within the vicinity of the encounter site.

The exchange of fire between the rebels and the government troops hit the three, resulting in their deaths.

Soldiers who figured in the encounter are now "restricted" at their camp in Barangay Aguiting, Kananga town, said Colonel Allan Martin, deputy commanding officer of the 802nd Infantry Brigade based in Ormoc City.

Martin was interviewed Tuesday while attending the graduation of the 333 new soldiers held at the grounds of the 8th Infantry Division.

"There is now an investigation regarding that incident and all the soldiers are now restricted at their camp," he said.

He also said that Major General Mario Chan, commanding general of the division, would issue a formal letter to the EDC regarding the incident.

Martin, however, could not say if the letter would include an apology.
Chan refused to grant interview regarding the incident.

Reached for his comment, Lieutenant Colonel Federico Tutaan, commanding officer of the 19th IB, said that he feel "remorseful" on the incident but maintained that his men were in the area to respond to a report about the presence of the rebels.

"In fact, it was the EDC people themselves who provided us this information. That was why, my men went to the area. It was just too unfortunate that our men, the NPA members and the civilians were in the same place and at the same time," Tutaan said.

"It was a legitimate military operation. But we are very, very remorseful to what happened," he added.

Tutaan, however, would not say if the bullets that killed the three civilians were from the soldiers, saying members of the scene of the crime operatives are now conducting investigation. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)