Army supports DOJ probe into ‘lumad’ attacks

THE Philippine Army in Eastern Mindanao has expressed support for the Department of Justice’s pursuit of an investigation into the series of “lumad” attacks in parts of Mindanao.

“We will cooperate. The truth will come out,” Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Aurelio Baladad said on Monday.

Last week, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the DOJ will conduct a thorough investigation on the killings “regardless of whether the perpetrators are the NPA, paramilitary groups, or members of the state security forces.”

She said a fact-finding team composed of the National Bureau of Investigation and National Prosecution Service investigation team has been formed to investigate the Lumad killings in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, Pangantucan in Bukidnon and Lianga, Surigao del Sur.

“Everybody is investigating– may [Commission on Human Rights], may Senate, meron sa DOJ. The truth will come out. Mas maganda kasi the true version is not going out eh puro ibang version lumalabas so our side is not being aired. It’s another chance for us to tell the story…documented naman mga istorya namin,” Baladad said.

The Philippine Army insists the deaths of tribal leaders in Lianga early this month was a result of tribal conflict.

“We have no part to play there. There were troops in the area that failed to engage the perpetrators. They were given the orders to engage but they did not because they think civilians will be harmed. But the allegation that the Magahat force is under [our] control, that is wrong,” Baladad said.

In Pangantucan, the five people alleged as indigenous peoples have indications that they were communist rebels, the military said.

“Our indicators is there [are pieces] of evidence of the firefight. Two of our troops were wounded from the encounter and we recovered an AK47. There were 19 backpacks ng NPA na na-recover. The five fatalities had powder burns and four had [powder burns] in both hands, while one had in one hand according to a police report,” Baladad said.

Militant groups, meanwhile, have repeatedly blamed the military and its alleged paramilitary forces in the Lumad incidents.