'Instant accusations'

This is in relation to the investigation made by the AFP on the seven (7) dead civilians who were found by soldiers during clean-up operations in Maimbung, Sulu. The military is finding out whether these civilians were killed in the crossfire or slain by the Abu Sayaff terrorists. Also, the AFP views Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan's accusations of military's culpability as unfair and unreasonable.

While the AFP fully agrees with Gov. Tan that whoever the perpetrators should be made responsible, it is unfair however for Gov. Tan to blame the military for it. The AFP goes beyond condemning the death of these civilians as it will find the perpetrators behind this carnage.

The clash between government forces and the Abu Sayaff group was a legitimate encounter and part of the rescue operation for Maria Rosalie Lao who was abducted by the ASG terrorists last January. The encounter happened at around 2 a.m. with two or our soldiers killed. The place of incident was somewhat remote from where the bodies were found. This puts the question as to why and how come the civilians were in the area.

Aside from the two soldiers who were earlier reported killed in the encounter, one Army sergeant was also found dead with the seven civilians. He was reportedly shot in front of his wife. If we are to follow Gov. Tan's assumptions, it is quite strange for soldiers to kill a fellow soldier, making his insinuations absurd.

The AFP reiterates that it never condones acts of human rights violations; nor will it stand complacent on strange incidents such as this. It will exhaust means to investigate the incident in order to ferret out the truth and to ensure that accountability is extracted from those culpable; and justice delivered.

I fully believe that the AFP assurance that should evidence expose any military personnel as complicit to any acts of human rights violation, no further prodding is needed for the AFP to ensure that the full force of the law is meted. As protectors of the people, we risk our lives daily to ensure that the primacy of human rights is upheld.

I think Governor Tan should restrain his outright condemnation and direct accusation of the military until sufficient facts have been established. That is how the rule of law works. Thus, it is incumbent upon him, as public servant, to lead his constituents to believe in the system and stop giving a wrong impression of the military. - Pfc. SAYRE M ESPULGAR, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, crg7_crsafp@yahoo.com.ph