DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/25 Mar) – Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro stressed on Wednesday that the military should not be part of the investigation on the murder of Rebelyn Pitao. But he assured that the Armed Forces will fully cooperate in the ongoing investigation to save the reputation of the organization.

The family of Rebelyn, the 20-year-old daughter of New People’s Army (NPA) leader Leoncio Pitao a.k.a. Commander Parago, and militant organizations are pointing their fingers at the military as the one responsible for the killing.

Teodoro said that he himself wants to know who really is behind the killing of Rebelyn, which he described as a “very disgusting crime.”

“I’m also mad over this incident. The AFP should not be part of the investigation body because who will believe us since everyone is pointing at us? Whether we like it or not, the military is being blamed,” he told reporters at the headquarters of the Eastern Mindanao
Command here.

However, he believes that the P500,000 reward for the capture of Rebelyn’s killer, which is offered by the city government of Davao, is no longer needed. Instead, the defense chief advised the investigating body to be more aggressive.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has earlier formed a special task force composed of elements from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Intelligence Group, the Regional Intelligence Group and the local police. The latter was also instructed to provide
security to Pitao’s family.

On the other hand, Teodoro stressed that if the suspects would come from the ranks of military, the punishment should be doubled because the reputation of the AFP is at stake.

In a clandestine interview with journalists in his guerilla base, Parago tagged Sgt. Ben Tipait, Sgt. Adan Masulao, Sgt. Hervin Bitang and a Cpl. Pedring Pedregosa as the ones behind the abduction, rape and murder of his daughter.

The Army’s 10th Infantry Division has earlier confirmed that the soldiers mentioned by Parago are indeed with the military, adding that two of them are being confined to the barracks while investigations are pending.

The military organization is very concerned about this,” said Maj.Randolph Cabangbang, 10ID spokesperson. He said they are very affected over the civilians’ perception on the military with this case. “We are not looking into this incident as soldiers but as fathers, too,” he
added, assuring the public that they will “fully cooperate” in the investigation.

Cabangbang also stressed there would be “no whitewash nor cover-up” in the investigation, “even if the suspects are from the military.”

He added that the military will give the Philippine National Police a free hand on the investigation.

“We also welcome an independent body to conduct its own investigation to help bring justice for Rebelyn. This incident is already beyond the fighting between the AFP and the NPA; this is already an attack against humanity,” Cabangbang said.

Rebelyn was abducted March 4 by armed men believed to be agents of the Eastern Mindanao Command’s military intelligence group (MIG) while she was on her way home in Bago Gallera here. Her body was found in an irrigation ditch almost 24 hours later. Her body was cremated March 14 following a funeral march attended by at least 5,000 people on the streets of Davao. (Keith Bacongco / MindaNews)