Slain soldier, a human rights advocate
The army officer slain by suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) last Saturday, August 5, in Dumarao, Capiz was a known human rights advocate, a press release from the Philippine Army's Civil Military Operations Unit (CMOU) said.
2Lt. Abelardo Motia the Training and Civil Military Operations Office of the 12th Infantry Battalion succumbed to ten gunshot wounds perpetrated by alleged hitmen from the Central Front Committee of the NPA.
Motia, a native of Casiguran, Aurora Province, together with Brgy Chairman Joel Frias of Brgy Ongol Ilaya, Dumarao were invited to a dinner in the house of a certain Rosemary Gonzaga of Brgy Poblacion Ilaya. The town of Dumarao, Capiz was celebrating its religious fiesta that time.
After dinner, when the duo was about to leave the area on board a motorcycle two unidentified assailants suddenly appeared and shot Motia and Frias using 45 caliber handguns.Motia was wounded in several parts of the body, while Brgy Chairman Frias managed to speed off the motorcycle, however it lost his balance and they fell several meters away.
The assailants chased them and fired another volley of gunshots at close range, this time mortally hitting Motia in the head. The assailants, backed by another four armed men fled on different directions on board motorcycles. They carted away Motia's .45 caliber pistol, a cell phone and a wallet containing cash of about P45,000, a loaned amount he has just withdrawn.
To recall, a Platoon of Scout Rangers from the 33rd Reconnaisance Company encountered several NPAs in Brgy Agsirab, Dumarao on February 24, 2004 wherein one NPA was killed and another wounded resulting to the seizure of two M16 Assault Rifles. It was Motia, the Platoon Leader who provided first aid treatment to the wounded NPA, identified as Erlan Torilyo a.k.a. Karte and exerted much effort to bring him to the hospital for further treatment.
Later, Torilyo was released by the Army for him to start a new life. The transfer of Motia to 12IB made him a human rights advocate, as he was vigorously implementing theconduct oflectures on the Army policyregarding strict observance of Human Rights and the International Humanitarian Lawto the CAGFU's and their cadres. Later, with his designation as the Civil Military Operations Officer,made him explore for possible livelihood projects in Dumarao,a town close to his heart, that could uplift the general well-being of the CAFGU's in the area.