Thirteen members of the 27th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army are in deep trouble for the death of the wife and two sons of a B’laan tribal leader in what could be a “massacre” in the hinterlands of Kiblawan town in Davao del Sur more than two weeks ago.
Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, spokesperson of the 10th Infantry Division, said that the investigation conducted by the board of inquiry found the soldiers, including a lieutenant, who led the operating team, to have violated the Rules of Engagement of the Articles of War.
“Investigation showed that there is a tactical lapse and gross negligence of duty,” Paniza said, adding the involved soldiers could be discharged from military service and face criminal charges and be jailed.
He said that the military is not condoning any wrongdoing committed by the rank and file of the Philippine Army.
“We shall let the rule of law prevail,” he said.
It can be recalled that soldiers swooped down on the house of Daguil Capion, a alleged bandit leader who was blamed for a number of killings in Barangay Kimlawis, Kiblawan over his opposition to the Tampakan copper and gold project, and engaged him in a firefight.
But they missed Capion, and instead hit wife who was two months pregnant, Juvy ,and two sons, Pop and John, who died to gunshot wounds on the heads and bodies.
The Capion family was backed by human rights groups and anti-mining organizations based in Marbel, South Cotabato and Davao City, convincing them to file murder charges against the soldiers involved in the operation.
The planned $5.9-billion mine project is run by Swiss mining giant Xstrata and Australia’s Indophil Resources NL.
The mine would be the country’s biggest source of foreign investment if it begins operations in 2016 as scheduled, although influential local church figures, tribal groups and environmental activists fiercely oppose it. (ASA)
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