The 60th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army assailed as false and malicious the allegation that it was responsible for the abduction of a student belonging to an Indigenous People community in Davao del Norte.
Lt. Col. Emmanuel Canilla, commander of 60th IB also took exception to an advisory posted by an officer of the Salungpongan School last week that blamed the army unit for the supposed abduction.
Salugpongan School Executive Director Ronnie Garcia released an advisory to the media last week, saying that Mawi Bago, their 20-year old student based in Sitio Nasilaban, Barangay Dagohoy, Talaingod, Davao del Norte, was allegedly abducted by armed men believed to be members of the 60th IB.
“The advisory of Garcia was irresponsible, malicious and slanderous that aimed to destroy the image of the battalion and the army,” Canilla said.
He also urged Garcia and his group “to refrain from venting on hearsay and throwing unfounded accusations without the benefit of investigation and proper, lawful procedure.”
In a statement released Monday, 2Lt. Amadeuz Celestial, civil-military operations officer of 60th IB also denied the accusation made by Salugpongan School.
“The 60th Infantry Battalion condemns the unfounded allegations attributing the abduction of Mawi Bago to the unit,”Celestial said.
Celestial said the advisory was wrong based on the statements made by two IP leaders in Talaingod.
Celestial said that a certain Nelson Nangayid, a resident of Sitio Natulinan, Barangay Palma Gil in Talaingod and Datu Richard Lingkuran, Sr., the tribal chieftain of Sitio Natulinan attested that the accusation against 60th was false.
Both Nangayid and Lingkuran are relatives of Bago.
He added that Bago, as stipulated in the statement of Nangayid and Lingkuran, was invited by Nangayid for a talk with the elements of 60th IB assigned in Natulinan Temporary Patrol Base.
“The invitation and talk were aimed to facilitate the formal and voluntary surrender of Bago to the government,” Celestial pointed out.
He said that earlier to the formal talks, Bago was seen roaming around the vicinity of Natulinan patrol base taking photos with his cell phone.
Celestial said it was Nangayid who approached Bago and casually endorsed him to the military, adding that both were former comrades under the Guerrilla Front 55 of the New People’s Army in Southern Mindanao Regional Command.
“Nangayid, Bago and his other companion was even invited to lunch by the army troopers assigned at the said military patrol base before they were formally introduced and turned over to the local tribal chieftains in the area where they executed their respective written statements specifically stating that they were invited by the military for an interview and also indicating Bago’s formal surrender and voluntary cooperation with the government,” he added.
The invitation and formal turn-over of Bago were also recorded at the blotter of the Philippine National Police in Talaingod town.
After the formal talks, Bago was released unharmed to his relative, Datu Lingkuran, Celestial noted.
