BY KIT BAGAIPOA complaint has been filed Friday against the lone suspect in the killing of Bayan Muna Bohol secretary general Mario Auxillo who remains at large while police are still searching for motives behind the latest murder case involving activist leaders.
The complaint was filed by the Bohol PNP at the Provincial Prosecutor's Office and is set for preliminary investigation this week.
The suspect, one Hilaraio Diola, was pinpointed by at least five witnesses as the one who shot Auxillo last June 15, about 10:30 p.m. at the Public Market of Bien Unido town.
Bohol police director SSupt. Edgardo Inking said in an interview with the Chronicle that the Provincial Investigation and Intelligence Bureau is making sure all angles are weighed to pursue the case.
Meanwhile, Bayan Muna regional coordinator Armand Perez and Provincial chairman John Ruiz III have called on the provincial government and the PNP to speed up the investigations even as they hinted of a military hand in the murder.
The progressive group openly criticized the way police are conducting the investigation of the incident, as the lone suspect has remained scot-free.
Bayan Muna has claimed they know at least seven witnesses willing to testify against the suspect.
According to Ruiz, they received reports from Bien Unido that the suspect was spotted at least twice going to his residence in barangay Poblacion of said town even after the shooting incident.
Bayan Muna alleged that Diola has connections with the Philippine Army's 15th Infantry Battalion through his membership in a group called Alimaong (Holy Warriors), of which many of its members are retired members of the military.
SSupt. Ingking and Army 302nd Infantry Brigade commander Col. Jess Dellosa have issued separate statements dis-owning the alleged police and military connection to the murder.
SSupt. Ingking said during a press conference conducted by the fact finding team of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) said cause oriented groups should instead assist the police in the investigations.
He said, so far, the militants have been issuing conflicting claims from purported witnesses that has muddled the investigations.
SHOT BY A FRIEND AND ASSOCIATEAuxilio was shot three times using a caliber .38 revolver at close range, while about to board his motorcycle.
The witnesses have been consistent in their statements identifying Diola as the assailant, a known friend of the victim.
Auxilio sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to the nearby Pres. Carlos P. Garcia Memorial Hospital in Talibon and then to Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran where he expired Sunday at about 10:00 am.
According to a medico legal report signed by Dr. Maria April Lumuthang, the victim suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the jaw, elbow and thigh.
Human rights advocate Karapatan Bohol Chapter, which conducted its own fact finding mission admitted to the media during a press conference Monday that the suspect offered a drink to the victim at a videoke bar at the town public market prior to the incident.
Witnesses also said the two had a serious talk for about 20 minutes before they parted ways, Auxilio to another videoke bar while Diola went back to his companions who were drinking in a videoke bar about 30 meters away.
It was an hour later, while the victim was about to go home, that the suspect shot him in front of at least five witnesses, said Bayan Muna regional coordinator Perez.
Karapatan also claimed Auxillo's death was a result of a purging carried out by the military against activist leaders. After their fact-finding mission, the group could not present any motive why Diola would shoot a friend.
NO POLICE RESPONSE?In an unsigned affidavit distributed by Bayan Muna, Bien Unido policeman SPO1 Francipieto Garcia Sr. said he learned of the shooting incident around 11:30 when SPO3 Franciso Pagalan and barangay tanod Fernando Nacua reported the incident.
They immediately proceeded to the crime scene to investigate, the affidavit stated.
Witness Evelyn Sayson, a friend of both Auxillo and Diola, however, belied the claims saying that there was no police responding to the crime scene. The victim's relatives likewise made this allegation.
In fact, without any ambulance or policecar to help them, they had to transport the victim by motorcycle to the nearest hospital.
Bien Unido police however disputed Sayson's claims, according to Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) Investigator Insp. John Gilbert Basalo.
The Bien Unido PNP told Insp. Basalo that they could have been already in the crime scene when the witnesses went to the police station located about a kilometer away from the crime scene.
MILITARY ASSET AND ANTI-COMMUNIST WARRIORThe group Alimaong, is allegedly an anti-communist group, acting as a military asset, according to Ruiz, during Monday's press conference.
The Supreme Council of Datus of Alimaong, however, said the suspect has already ceased to be a member of the group, which was proven in a certification showed to the media at the PPOC-fact finding press conference.
Col. Jess Dellosa has likewise strongly denied claims that Diola is a military asset.
Investigations by independent groups reveal that Bien Unido police may have a trust agreement with Diola as local cops usually ask the suspect to watch over impounded illegal fishing boats which are tied behind his house. The suspect is also a market laborer and tax collector, Provincial Peace and Order Council Fact finding team leader Romeo Teruel said at the PPOC press conference.
Sources also leaked to the media bared that Diola was a former member of the New People's Army (NPA) but has laid low, a reason comrades intimidated him that resulted to a strafing of his house that wounded his wife in 2004.
The same reports revealed that the victim is also a member of Alimaong, although Ruiz denied the allegations.
MAYONG MAG-UUMABefore his death, Auxilio was popularly working with the different peasant organizations and fisher folks in Dagohoy, San Miguel, Trinidad, Talibon and Bien Unido where the Danajon double barrier reef marine conservation project is on-going.
His group, Capitol sources said has been opposing the anti-illegal fishing campaigns.
He ran for the provincial board during the last elections under PDP-Laban but lost.
Advocating for land occupation, he was among the key leaders of farmers' organizations including Humabol (Hugpong sa Mag-uumang Bol-anon).
Auxillo is credited for the organization of the Trinidad-Talibon Integrated Farmers Association, a farmer community now settling at the Mitra-Villareal estates of the Bohol Cattle Ranch.
He was also one of the founding members of the Central Visayas Farmers' Development Center (FARDEC).
OPLAN BANTAY LAYAIn a press release, Bayan Muna said Auxilio's work has pushed him to lead protest marches demanding for land reforms. Due to this he earned a reputation as a communist agent of the NPA.
Local police and military authorities have laughed off Bayan Muna insinuations that the killing of Auxillo was part of "Oplan Bantay Laya."
BAYAN MUNA'S KA SATUR HERE TOMORROWBayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo will be arriving tomorrow at 9 am to pay respects to Auxillo in Trinidad and join the "Parangal para kay Mayong Mag-uuma" or "Tribute to Mayong" after the nightly novena, according to Ruiz.
He is set to pay a courtesy visit to the governor, the city mayor and the Tagbilaran Bishop where the issue on political killings will be raised.
He will fly back to Manila on Tuesday.
(The Bohol Chronicle, 6/24/2007)Linkback:
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Topic: Suspect of murder of Bohol activist still at large; Satur Ocampo to fly to Bohol (Read 1178 times)