DAVAO CITY The family of slain farmer Acuiles C. Tungal in Pantukan, Compostela Valley filed murder complaints on Wendnesay against elements of the 25th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Cesar Ideo before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) XI.
Karapatan Southern Mindanao was with the victims familty to assist the filing of the complaint before the CHR.
The wife Fracisca S. Tungal together with daughter Ofelia T. Manuel and the survivor son Arnulfo S. Tungal, 11 years old, relayed the killing incident of Acuiles C. Tungal. Tungal was killed by members of 25th IB PA based in Sitio Lapinigan, Pantukan, Compostela Valley Province last April 19 at around 7:00 am in Sitio Cabahian, Brgy. Tibagon, Pantukan, Compostela Valley Province .
The 11 year-old-survivor stated that from April 16 to 19, they stayed in the area to hunt for wild boars. However, on the third day, while Acuiles was preparing their breakfast, Arnulfo noticed a military walking towards their direction and heard the man saying hoy! Seconds later, strings of gun shots followed. Arnulfo saw his father hit by series of gun shots from high powered rifles of the 25th IB PA elements. Arnulfo tried to go near to hug his father, but because of fear and likewise he observed that he was then the target he ran without hesitation towards his sisters house in Upper Sitio Lahi, Brgy. Magnaga, Pantukan.
The victims family shared that around 40 gunshot wounds were found in Acuiles remains. The left and right hands bore 2 and 1 huge gunshot wounds, respectively. Heavy traces of gunshot wounds are visible in the victims left hips down to his left toes and theres a fist-sized gunshot wound in the victims stomach. Again, gunshot wounds bore from the victims throat down to his stomach and even the victims private organ was not spared.
Indeed, the members of 25th IB PA maintain its notoriety that butchers human rights. They have once again failed to distinguish civilian from combatants hence; the victims became their objects of hostilities, Karapatan Southern Mindanao Region Secretary General Kelly M. Delgado said.
We will explore all means in order to seek justice for Acuiles C. Tungals death. Local residents in Pantukan are likewise determined to advance the peoples movement to defend and protect the rights of the people in the area, Delgado stressed.
We urge all human rights advocates, including politicians running for office, to condemn this brutal act and join us in our actions on the case. We will support the family in their pursuit for justice as they file a case in a proper regional trial court, to the Joint Secretariat of the Joint Monitoring Committee of the Comprehensive Agreement for the Respect of Human Rights and the International Humanitarian Law and to Mr. Philip Alstons desk being the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Extra Judicial Killing, Delgado added.
KARAPATAN calls for the immediate pull-out and the stop of military operations in the hinterlands that terrorized the people as CARHRIHL and other Protocols of War are not properly observed. ###
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