The 11th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army rejected a statement from militant farmers’ groups blaming them for the deaths of a farmer-couple in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
Lt. Col. Paul Idul, 11th IB commander, said the accusation was another “desperate move” by activist groups to discredit government and its efforts to achieve lasting peace in Negros Oriental and declare it insurgency-free.
Idul said there is no truth whatsoever to the allegations of the groups, that the couple, Endric Calago, 47, and his wife, Rosalie, 45, were killed and burned by military personnel in their house in Barangay Tacpao, Guihulngan City, during the pre-fiesta activities Sunday,
The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and Tanggol Magsasaka condemned the brutal killing of the Calago couple, and openly accused members of the 11th IB as the perpetrators.
Endric Calago was the newly-elected vice-chairperson of the Kapunungan Alang sa Ugma sa Gagmayang Mag-uuma, the local chapter of KMP in Negros Oriental.
Initial reports showed that at around 10:45 p.m. on May 24, Endric made loud noises at their house, believed to be a signal to his neighbors that they were under attack, and Rosalie was heard shouting for help. A few minutes later, the house was on fire and gunshots were heard, the KMP said in a statement it issued.
At around 5 a.m. on May 25, the Colago’s daughter, Erlie, 16, arrived with neighbors and police officers from the Guihulngan Police Station, and discovered both of her parents lifeless.
Antonio Flores, KMP secretary general, said, the KMP strongly condemned the death of the Calagos. It said the 11th Infantry Batallion was responsible for the double murder.
Idul denied the allegations, saying that early police investigation showed the couple appears to have personal grudges that might have triggered the attack against them.
He also said he believes that Endric had the same last name as the barangay chairman of Tacpao, so the couple might have been mistaken to be military informants.
