10th ID to file charges vs  NPA for civilian’s death

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.
The 10th Infantry Division (ID) is set to file charges against the New People’s Army (NPA) over the death of a civilian in an encounter in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur on Tuesday.
10th ID spokesperson Capt. Rhyan Batchar said in yesterday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps forum, they are ‘contemplating to file a case’ on the death of the victim identified as Dionie Cantulan who was killed in the middle of gunfight between  the soldiers of 102nd Infantry Brigade and the NPA’s  Guerilla Front 51 under alias Jasmin around 5:15 a.m. of April 26, 2016 in Sitio Tubison, Barangay Astorga.
“Maybe, we can file a murder charge against the rebel group to give justice on the death of Cantulan,” he said.
Batchar said their office has asked the assistance of the local police for other cases that may be filed against the rebels.
He said aside from the death of Cantulan, one soldier identified as Cpl. Roosvelt Tamse was also killed in action during the encounter.
The soldiers engaged the rebels in almost an hour of gun fight when they saw the members of NPA.
Batchar said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and local police are intensifying the checkpoints within the areas for possible arrest of the rebels.
Meanwhile, he said a member of the NPA returned to the fold of law with a caliber 45 pistol through the 68th Infantry Battalion on Tuesday morning, April 26, 2016 at Sitio Milyong, Barangay, Sto Niño, Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
The returnee identified as alias Kid, 34, was a member of SDG Platoon, Guerilla Front 35 of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) voluntarily submitted himself to elements of 68IB with his caliber 45 pistol.
He said Kid told the army he was 17 years old when he was recruited to join the NPA on May 1999 in Talaingod, Davao del Norte. He is currently undergoing interview at the headquarters of 68IB.