PNP, AFP deny alleged massacre, torture in Bohol op

The police and military on Monday denied the allegations of “massacre” and “torture” in their operation in Bilar, Bohol that killed five alleged communist rebels last Friday including a lawyer.

In a press conference, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. maintained that the incident was a “legitimate encounter”.

“In fact, it was very unfortunate that one of our police force, police personnel died and one wounded. Siguro naman parang masyadong kwan na iyon, if it will sacrifice one life or one personnel and wounding another one just to draw an encounter na sinasabi nila,” he said.

(In fact, it was very unfortunate that one of our police personnel died, and one was wounded. Maybe that seems too much, if it will sacrifice one life or one personnel and wounding another one just to draw an encounter as what they are claiming.)

“Nevertheless, if there are complaints, we are open for investigation. But based on report from our lower units, it's a legitimate encounter,” he added.

Armed Forces Visayas Command (Viscom) chief Lieutenant General Benedict Arevalo denied the accusations and called them “propaganda.”

“We will not dignify their propaganda anymore, they can say what they want,” he told reporters.

“Nothing new, they are not saying anything new. They say that to all the things that’s happening. We are not hearing anything new from what they are saying. They’ve been saying that in all the operations,” he added.

Arevalo said the military is open to any investigation on the matter.

In a statement on Sunday, the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) alleged that the state forces “tortured and summarily executed” the five fatalities. They were identified as lawyer Hannah Cesista, Domingo Compoc, Parlito Historia, Marlon Omosura, and Alberto Sancho.

“A human rights group has reportedly obtained a photograph showing Compoc alive and in the custody of state forces. The group also gathered that the NPA members were tortured and summarily executed with Cesista missing an eye and others displaying visible stab wounds,” it said.

“Under this context, the brutal torture and killings of the captured NPA members is a grave breach of international humanitarian law which mandates the humane treatment of captured combatants as prisoners of war,” the NUPL said.—RF, GMA Integrated News