Militant groups file raps vs 303rd Brigade soldiers
BACOLOD CITY – Militant groups yesterday filed charges of illegal detention, grave threats, grave coercion and violation of Section 10 of RA 7610 (Child Abuse Law) against soldiers under 303rd Brigade led by Captain Frankie Lim.
The case was filed by members of the fact-finding mission from cause-oriented groups like Karapatan, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and League of Filipino Students before the City Prosecutor's Office in Himamaylan City..
The case stemmed from the alleged harassment of the group of Capt. Lim against the fact-finding mission team.
Bayan-Negros Secretary Felipe Levy Gelle, Jr. said their group was walking along a mountain route towards Barangay Mahalang when they met the soldiers. They came from Sitio Asaran where they have conducted investigations among the upland farmers victimized by the alleged abuses of soldiers belonging to 11th Infantry Batallion, Philippine Army.
"For almost seven (7) hours, the fact-finding mission members and volunteers suffered psychological and mental anguish in the hands of Captain Frankie Lim and his abusive troops. They were illegally detained, restrained of their liberties, prevented from communicating with lawyers and co-workers and threatened," Gelle Jr. said.
Gelle added Capt. Lim uttered threats against the members of the fact-finding mission. He got a grenade and threatened to throw it among the male members of the fact-finding mission and already cocked his rifle as if to shot them.
"If they were able to harass and intimidate the members of the fact-finding mission, how much more to the ordinary upland farmers, whose rights are continually violated and abused by the troops of the 11th IBPA and the 303rd infantry Brigade," he added.
Brigadier General Josue Gaverza denied that his men harassed Gelle's group. As a matter of fact, he said, what they did is in protection of Gelle's group because the area is very risky with the presence of armed men.
"We endorsed them to the barangay captain for their safety because anytime an encounter may ensue between us and the CPP-NPA," said Brig. Gen. Gaverza.
Gaverza is also wondering why the group was there since the area is heavily infested with rebel groups and their lives could be endangered.
Because of what happened, Gaverza said he will propose a resolution to the Peace and Order Council that will call for the regulation of fact-finding missions and even medical missions in the hinterlands.