PPOC to tackle Olayvar fact-finding documents

AMID allegations by cause oriented groups that the death of vocal militant leader Victor Olayvar shows military and police connection, Governor Erico Aumentado dares: show evidences. As this came, at least two former rebels now joining the mainstream have openly said over the radio that they could not yet issue statements, adding that they would await for the results of the investigations. Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Bohol head Rito Montes also said, two weeks after the slay, they still could not come up with a conclusive evidence. During the Governor's Report Friday, Aumentado who also co-chairs the Local Peace Forum instructed Department of Interior and Local Government Provincial Director Rustica Mascariñas to convene the Provincial Peace and Order Council this September 28.

The militants also blamed the LPF of “setting the conditions” for Olayvar's murder. The special meeting would set in time for 21 days after the early morning ambush in Cantubod Danao, Bohol that claimed the life of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Bohol Chair Olayvar. Aumentado said the meeting would especially tackle the developments in the evidence gathering and motives pursuit done by Task Force Olayvar and other independent groups doing fact finding missions on the incident. So far, the PPOC sent a fact-finding mission to the place, while human rights group Karapatan also sent their mission. Five days after the killing, the CHR-Bohol also sent in a team to investigate.

Aside from the regular PPOC members, the meeting may also have the militant groups so they too may present documents at the meeting. This however if they positively respond to the invitation. Aumentado wants Karapatan, Gabriela, Bayan, Bayan Muna, Hugpong sa mga Mag-uumang Bol-anon (MUMABOL) and church based promotion of Church's People's Response (PCPR) to be represented and to present their findings during the meeting. The documents gathered would then be endorsed to the Melo Commission, Aumentado added.

Many see the Aumentado move as a way to dispel the “biased” allegations hurled against the government organized task force. The Melo Commission, a Malacanang appointed team led by former Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Melo is accordingly aided by Spain and Finland teams looking over their shoulders. As the militants again charged that justice delayed is justice denied to the widowed and orphaned siblings of the Olayvar family, the task force is determined to make things right in the case, even if it would take the time. Pre-judged as biased in their earlier reports leaked to the media, Task Force Olayvar (TFO) is looking at all angles and gathering all conclusive evidence before coming up with statements, Bohol Police Provincial Director Ssupt Arturo Evangelista said in an interview lately.

Gov. Aumentado formed TFO from the members of the Provincial Peace and Order Council, which also include the police and the military as well as a strong Catholic Church representation to look into the killings and hale the perpetrators to court. Even before the police were still wrapping up their crime scene investigations, cause oriented groups have started blaming the police and the military as culprits through text brigades. Cebu and some national media new sources may have also used the unverified text reports.

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