Army spokesman denies hand in militant farmer leader’s slay

Absurd and ridiculous.

Major Medel Aguilar, chief of the Armed Forces of The Philippines 5th Civil Relations in Southern Mindanao, said this yesterday following accusation by militant groups that he military was behind the killing of peasant leader Celso Pojas.

Pojas was shot dead around 6:30 am on Thursday in front of the Farmer Center Office in Bugac, Ma-a in Davao City.

Kelly Delgado, chair of the human rights group Karapatan, said Medel had earlier warned progressive groups fronting as legal fronts for the communist movement. Pojas is spokesman of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and secretary of the Farmers Association of Davao City.

As protector of human rights, Delgado should be the first to know that proof is needed before he could be accused, said Aguilar. “This is absurd and ridiculous.”

Davao City Police chief Senior Superintendent Jaime Morente said Task Force Celso Pojas, composed of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 11, Davao City Police Office and the Talomo Police Station, would probe the killing.