DILG chief orders probe of death of NPA suspect

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, Philippines—Was a suspected leader of the New People’s Army in Bicol killed in a legitimate encounter or abducted before he was killed by government troopers on February 25?

Amid conflicting claims of the military and human rights and militant groups on the real cause of death of Elmer Estrellado, 34, Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo directed the police on Tuesday to conduct a thorough investigation.

He said an investigation could determine the real circumstances behind the suspected rebel’s death.

Robredo said “in the interest of objectivity I really want to know the real score.”

In a press conference held at the wake of Estrellado at the Evangelical Church here on Monday, his wife Malyn said her husband was abducted on February 25 by four armed men who introduced themselves as operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Jose Pernia, Bayan Muna-Bicol regional coordinator, said Rodel was walking home in Malilipot, Albay, after buying viand for his family at the local market when he was forced to board a gray car with license plate MXN-902.

Vince Casilihan, spokesperson of Karapatan-Bikol, said as early as 6:30 a.m. of February 25, Army spokesperson Maj. Harold Cabunoc of the 9th ID issued a statement that an NPA leader named Elmer Estrellado was killed in a clash in Bato town.

The rights group said Rodel and Elmer were one and the same person and that Rodel was abducted in Albay, brought to Camarines Sur and killed there before a report on the supposed clash was made.

Lawyer Madonna Gay Escio, counsel for the Estrellados, said the family was preparing to file a murder case against military officials who allegedly concocted the clash story in Bula town to cover up the extrajudicial killing of Estrellado.

“Imagine they reported having killed in an encounter a certain Estrellado at around 6:30 a.m. while Rodel was abducted two and a half hours (later) at 9 a.m.,” she said.

In a radio interview, Lt. Col. Ernest Cruz, commanding officer of the Army’s 42nd Infantry Battalion, said a village council in Bato issued a resolution certifying that a clash occurred there.

The clash was supposed to have occurred in the village of Buluang in Bato. It is 10 kilometers from the town proper.