Murder charges filed vs suspects in Surigao del Sur town killings

Multiple murder charges have been filed against the suspects of the recent killings in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, the military said.

Based from a report from the Philippine National Police (PNP), the suspects were Bobby Tejero, Loloy Tejero, Garito Layno and 20 John Does, Army’s 4th Infantry Division Captain Joe Patrick Martinez said.

The suspects were also charged with grave coercion, arson, robbery and grave threats.

The filing of charges before the provincial prosecutors office in Lianga comes after a “thorough” investigation by the PNP, Martinez said.

The said suspects were also not included in its roster of Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) Active Auxiliary (CAA) personnel.

READ: 3 dead in paramilitary rampage in Surigao del Sur town

Last Sept. 1, Emerito Samarca, executive director of the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development or ALCADEV and Manobo leaders Dionel Campos and Datu Juvillo Sinzo were killed by Magahat Bagani forces, a paramilitary force supposedly organized by the military. The AFP has denied such claims.

“The CAA is the only legitimate force being supervised by the AFP. Other armed groups shall be the subject of law enforcement operations conducted by the PNP,” Army’s 401st Brigade Colonel Isidro Purisima was quoted as saying.

The recent killings have also triggered the evacuation of the indigenous peoples in the community.