Probe up as mis-encounter leaves 1 dead, 4 injured in Antique
FAJARDO
A probe is now underway that aimed to ascertain the mis-events surrounding the incident involving army troopers of the 31st Reconnaissance Company and the family of couple Abelardo and Epifania Cabaya.
A reported case of mistaken identity led to a tragic shoot-out between the two groups which left one dead and four wounded.
In a report, The News Today (TNT) gathered that the first shot was made allegedly coming from the Cabayas who were then holed up in the family hut in Barangay Panpanan.
The Army group was led by 1st Lt. Rey Aguis who were in the area to respond to an earlier call for help amidst reported presence of armed elements. Barangay Panpanan and its adjoining hinterland barangays are known to be a "hot spot" and infiltrated by members of the communist terrorists New People's Army.
The locals have since been known to have armed themselves against extortion and harassment activities of the rebels. The army on the other hand, are stationed in the area to help secure peace and order situation and control the terror created by the insurgency presence.
Col. Gregorio Fajardo of the Army's Task Force Panay (TFP) said, based on their initial investigation the Cabayas might have mistook the army troops as NPA rebels.
It was learned that NPA rebels clad in fatigue uniforms usually visit the area.
Minutes into the first shot, the army group positioned themselves and engaged in a brief firefight that later left Epifania dead, her husband wounded along with three other Cabaya children. Recovered in the Cabaya household was an unlicensed Carbine and home-made 12 gauge shotgun.
Fajardo said the operating troops only defended themselves. There were sporadic fires after some of the residents also responded and tried to help the Cabayas. During the more than 35-minutes firefight, the residents still thought they were exchanging fires with the members of the communist rebels.
"An unfortunate incident," Col. Gregorio Fajardo of the Army's Task Force Panay (TFP) said when reached by Bombo Radyo Iloilo, "but we are submitting our men for an investigation that we also requested from the local government unit of San Remegio."
Pending the probe outcome, the Army extended financial help to the Cabayas as Army soldiers involved in the shoot-out were temporarily relieved off their posts and ordered back to barracks.
And it was an unfortunate case of mistrust from the civilian side, Col Fajardo explained, with 1st Lt. Aguis' group apparently thought as rebels. Among those set to be ascertained is whether there was a violation from the Army recon team in their rules of engagement.
"We will fully cooperate with the investigating body," he assured.
Earlier, the Napoleon Tumagtang Command of the New People's Army (NPA) in southern Panay condemned the incident that victimized innocent civilians.
It said the incident was a result of the Army's massive militarization in the hinterlands against the rebels.
"The killing of Epifania Cabaya and the wounding of her family members (including Joylen and Justin who are 11 and 9 years old, respectively) show that the civilians bear the brunt of abuses and attacks of the mercenary soldiers," said the NPA statement.