Murder charges filed vs Army men for killing Ateneo stude, 3 others

DAVAO CITY — The Davao Prosecutor’s Office has found enough evidence to file murder charges in court against two members of the Special Forces Company of the Philippine Army as well as three other members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographil Unit (CAFGU) for the alleged massacre in Arakan Valley, North Cotabato last year of an Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) student and three others.

Killed wereBenjalibe "Beng" Hernandez, an ADDU student, and three others identified only as Andrade, a certain Crisanto Amora and one Labaon Sinunday, a farmer.

The city prosecutors indicted M/Sgt. Antonio Torilla, Cpl. Ramdolph Tamayo and CAFGU members Leo Indagacan, Diodok Anarna and an unidentified militiaman.

The three-man panel of the city prosecutors office resolved the complaint based on evidence presented by the parents of Hernandez and the findings of the Commission on Human Rights in Region 12 on the incident.

Meanwhile, the accused reportedly failed to submit their counter-affidavits and other evidence despite the extended period they were given to reply to the charges.

An eyewitness, Alindro Pacana, narrated to the prosecutors what took place between April 4 and 5 last year that led to the said massacre in a hut in Arakan valley.

The accused, on the other hand, insisted the matter was a legitimate encounter with alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Pacana pointed out that the victims have already surrendered and offered no resistance after the first volley of shots.

The panel likewise concluded that the medico-legal findings affirmed the testimony of Pacana that Hernandez was shot while her arms were raised.