Holganza suspects that Gregorio is the one who is connected with the NPA. The official noted that during a search of his residence after the clash, the soldiers found an M14 rifle elaborately hidden.
Holganza also said there was no reason to punish his men for the killing of Buya although he said that he is willing to apologize with the girls family once it is finally established that she is not a child warrior.
Ay present, he said no initial sanctions have been taken against 2Lt. Francis John Gabawa, who led the operation, and his men — all from the Armys 67th Infantry Battalion, since the March 31 clash that also left a soldier dead.
Why is he going to be accountable? The issue is whether she is a child warrior or not. The issue of her (Buya) being a child warrior or not and the issue of her death are different, Holganza said.
What we are seeing is that her death, at the very least, was a crossfire incident, he said.
Capt. Jose Francis dela Fuente, spokesman of the Armys 8th Infantry Division, earlier reported that the girl was indeed a child warrior.
On the other hand, Holganza said: There was no conclusion yet in the initial investigation that she is a child warrior. He said he is not convinced that Gelacio is a child warrior.
The Army general also categorically belied some reports that quoted him as saying that Gelacio was good at handling a firearm.
She was seen holding a gun but she was not seen firing Reports attributed to me as saying she was good at handling a firearm, I never said that. I categorically deny that I said that she is good at handling a firearm, he said.
Asked what made him doubt that Gelacio is a child warrior, Holganza merely said: She is a child. At the very least, granted that she is not a child warrior, I am appealing to the other side not to let children play around with firearms. (davaotoday.com, with a Philippine News Agency report)
