Army to probe deadly clash

A top military officer ordered the immediate creation of a board of inquiry to look into the circumstances in the encounter between members 27th Infantry Battalion and a group of heavily armed men 6:00 am October 18, in Purok Uno, Sitio Aliong, Barangay Kimlawis, Kiblawan, Davao del Sur which left three civilians dead and one wounded.
Brig. General Ariel Bernardo, commander of the 10th Infantry Division said the BOI must look into the possible violation in the rules of engagement by the soldiers.
He also directed the officers and men of the 27th IB involved in the incident to report to the division headquarters immediately for further investigation.
Initial investigation report revealed that members of the 27th IB headed by 1Lt. Dante Jimenez, commanding officer of the Bravo Company were responding to a report about the presence of armed men in the area headed by alias Daguil Capeon, when they were fired upon as they approached a nipa hut.
The report said the soldiers fired back as five heavily armed men including Capeon withdrew towards Mt. Bololomot leaving behind three dead bodies, identified later as Juvy, Pop and John, wife and children of Capeon, respectively.
Vicky Capeon, one of the daughters of Daguil, was wounded in the left ear and sought refuge in their relatives.
The investigation disclosed further that although Capeon’s family resided at Barangay Datal Blao, several kilometers from the encounter site, they would visit the older Capeon in his lair, one of the reasons why they were present in one of his hiding places  at Sitio Aliong during the incident.
Lt. Colonel Alexis Bravo, commanding officer of the 27th IB ordered the soldiers to secure the area and at the same time requested the Kiblawan Police Station to provide personnel from the Scene of the Crime Operation to conduct independent investigation at the encounter site.
He said Capeon’s group though small in number figured in several incidents in the past like the ambush on police personnel in Kiblawan and the series of killings of innocent civilians in the area.
Bravo said Capeon’s group also clashed with soldiers in previous occasions.
Soldiers recovered one hand grenade, one rifle grenade, empty shells of M-16 Armalite rifle and two pieces M16 magazines with live bullets during the clearing operation.
Meanwhile, a Quick Reaction Team headed by Major Obligado, commander of the 10th Civil-Military Operations  Battalion proceeded to the area to attend to the needs of the bereaved family in coordination with the Bongmal Tribal Council. [PIA 11/Joey Sem G. Dalumpines]