Terrorists? AFP refuses to label elderly couple killed in Bohol clash

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday refused to confirm whether the elderly couple killed during the crossfire between government forces and the Abu Sayyaf group last week were terrorists.

AFP Public Affairs Office Chief, Col. Edgard Arevalo said on Monday that they do not want to speculate on the case of the elderly couple since a probe has already been launched.

Constantina, 68, and Constancio Petalco, 66, were killed during the clash last Tuesday after they failed to heed government orders to evacuate Barangay Napo, Inabanga town, Bohol, because they were slow to move and old, their relatives said.

“Nagpapatuloy ang imbestigasyon upang alamin ang kadahilanan kung bakit si[la] nandoon,” Arevalo said in a press briefing.

(Investigation is ongoing to find out why they were there.)

Arevalo also raised the possibility that Abu Sayyaf bandits were the ones who killed the couple on suspicion that they might have connived with authorities.

“Hindi natin masabi. There is a possibility na ang Abu Sayyaf mismo ang pumatay sa kanila,” Arevalo said.

(We cannot tell. There is a possibility that the Abu Sayyaf killed them.)

However, last week, Lieutenant Colonel Jose Dodjie Belloga Jr., commander of the 47th Infantry Batallion, said the couple were considered part of the Abu Sayyaf because they refused to clear the premises.

“Iyong mga naiwan sa loob, sa amin, are considered supporters or kasama ng ASG,” Belloga said.

(Those who stayed are considered members or supporters of the Abu Sayyaf Group for us.)

Speaking to ANC on Monday noon, military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said they have sought police assistance in investigating the couple’s death.

“The presence of a couple in the area was too proximate to where the battle was waging and they were exactly in the place where the bandits hold up and so we turned over the matter to the police now for their investigation as to ascertain the participation of the couple,” he said.

This story first appeared on ABS-CBN News and is re-published with permission.