Justice for Kabacan 9 and other victims of violent crime

IN these trying times for the country, where the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in loss of jobs and more Filipinos going hungry, senseless violence continues unabated. After the August 24 terrorist attacks in Jolo that claimed the lives of at least 14 innocent victims, nine farmers were massacred in Barangay Aringay, Kabacan, North Cotabato. In the morning of August 29, nine Muslim men — among them three teenagers and two in their early 20s — were mowed down by unidentified suspects using high- powered firearms. The massacre happened inside the sprawling demo farm of the state-run University of Southern Mindanao. On a Saturday morning with no students or staff around, the killers waited for their unsuspecting victims.

Not much is publicly known about the victims though at least three of them were on their way home from Barangay Pedtad where they had attended a kanduli or thanksgiving observance. Initially thought to be a shootout or rido (clan feud), the incident soon emerged as a massacre of nine unarmed persons. The Commission on Human Rights Region 12 docketed the case as extrajudicial killing after it came out that the only victim — 17- year- old Nasher Guiaman — who wasn’t killed on the spot was able to tell his relatives that policemen were involved in the carnage. Another victim reportedly made a call when the group was stopped by the suspects. He, too, reportedly said they were police.

The nine victims were “Bangsamoro,” even if majority of them were residents of places not included in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Six were from Kabacan (though one of the six was apparently already residing in the town of Aleosan). One victim came from Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao. The Bangsamoro Organic Law recognizes that Bangsamoro people’s rights are protected by the national government even if they reside outside the geographical territory of BARMM. The Bangsamoro government has initiated its

own investigation while assuring this will be done in proper coordination with the provincial government of North Cotabato. Despite the latter’s having “lost” 63 barangay (villages) in six towns (including Kabacan) to BARMM in the Feb. 6, 2019 plebiscite, the relationship between the two governments is founded on respect and cooperation.

The massacre was a heinous crime condemned by Christians and Muslims alike and political organizations, including the Moro National Liberation Front through its vice chairman for political affairs, Romeo Sema. This is not a conflict between Christians and Muslims, “tapos na tayodyan,” said Mohammad Kelie Antao, North Cotabato provincial board member and administrator of the BARMM Development Coordinating Office that oversees the 63 barangay.

Seven members of the House of Representatives from Mindanao are calling on the Committee on Public Order and safety and the committee on Muslim affairs to conduct a joint inquiry into the incident. In House Resolution 1183 filed on September 2, the seven legislators put forward that, “Allegations that PNP (Philippine National Police) personnel are involved in nefarious activities, especially the killing of innocent people, should never be condoned; hence, an investigation is necessary to determine the circumstances leading to these senseless activities in order for Congress to legislate remedial measures to ensure that constitutional rights of the people are protected and that law offenders are prosecuted.” ( TheManilaTimes, Sept. 5, 2020).

Indeed, this is a timely call considering the recent Supreme Court ruling in People of the Philippines vs Jerry Sap lay Guerrero, which I discussed in a previous column. While the sponsors of the House resolution focus on “alleged atrocities committed by law enforcers against us Muslims,” as expressed by Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Amihilda Sangcopan, the investigation would address “atrocities” committed by law enforcers in general.

While policemen, regrettably, are being linked to the massacre as they have been linked to countless other killings from Jolo to Aparri, policemen, too, are victims of violent crime. Four days before the nine men were slaughtered in Kabacan, Maj. Joan Resurreccion, the police chief of the neighboring town of Carmen, was killed while in hot pursuit of criminals who had just robbed and murdered 25-year-old Indian money lender Lovepreet Singh Brar. The criminals had sharpshooters waiting along the escape route. Major Resurreccion was inside the police car when hit.

The Philippine News Agency reported that 15 suspects have been charged. Three “have existing heinous crime records,” according to North Cotabato Provincial Police Director Col. Henry Villar who also dismissed speculations apparently circulating on social media that the robbery of a “huge amount of money” and shooting to death of the Indian moneylender and Major Resurreccion were linked to the Kabacan massacre. However, for as long as the identities of the charged suspects haven’t been disclosed to the public and murderers of the Kabacan 9 remain unknown, the public will be tempted to continue to speculate.