Wanted RPA leader shoot dead by operatives link to Dr. Perlas murder?

RIP, In memory of Dr. Dreyfuss Perlas. Photo courtesy from Dr. Charles Marquez (FB post)

Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte- in a joint operation of Army troopers and the Philippine National Police (PNP) against wanted person on murder case and leader of rejectionist group operated in Kapatagan Lanao del Norte was shot to death by the government operatives.

  

The operation led Bravo Company 15th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division under the leadership of 1Lt. Marlouie S. Dicen (CE) Philippine Army (PA), Commanding Officer of Bravo Coy, 15IB, 3ID, PA together with the Kapatagan Municipal Police Station (MPS) headed by PCINSP Malvin Cebedo Loquinte, Officer-in-charge (OIC) conducted joint law enforcement operation to serve the warrant of arrest against Agapito Tamparong Democer a.k.a “RICO” Tamparong Manatad and alyas “DARWIN” of legal age allegedly Gun for Hire personality and a suspect in the series of shooting incident in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte (LDN) and some other municipalities in the Province.

Accordingly, the suspect had no permanent address and with standing warrant of arrest for double murder with criminal case number 21-3510 & 21-3511 with no bail recommended and frustrated murder in criminal case number 21-3512 issued by Judge Alberto P. Quinto of RTC Branch 21, Kapatagan, LDN dated February 22, 2017.  He was also linked as the alleged suspect to the assassination of late Dr. Dreyfuss B. Perlas the Municipal Health Officer of Sapad, Lanao del Norte.

In a police report, Dr. Perlas was gunned down at about 7:05 in the evening of March 1, 2017, along the national highway of Purok 4, Maranding, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte, wherein a certain Dreyfuss Perlas Y Bolivar, 31 years old, single, the Municipal Helath officer of Sapad, Lanao del Norte was shot to death by unidentified suspect/s riding in an unrecognized vehicle. Recovered at the crime scene is one fired cartridge case of .45 caliber and a single motorcycle Yamaha XTZ color blue with plate number KA 98877 driven by the victim. The victim was declared dead on arrival (DOA) at the Kapatagan Provincial Hospital, Poblacion, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte. During this time, the Police investigation is going to establish the identity of the suspect/s and its motive of the killing. Most of the people in Sapad recounted that Dr, Perlas is the Doctor for the poor and in unison they are asking justice for Dr. Perlas.

Upon receiving reports, Army official said the operation against the suspect was conducted at 03:30 in the afternoon of March 4, 2017, after receiving information from the concern citizen that the suspect had a drinking session at Barangay Tiacongan, Kapatagan, LDN. The joint Army troopers and PNP operatives proceeded towards Barangay Tiacongan to serve the warrant of arrest to the suspect, Agapito Tamparong Democer a.k.a “RICO” Tamparong Manatad and alyas “DARWIN”. Sensing operatives approaching the area, the suspect runaway for escape which resulted to a pursuit operation by the operatives until he was cornered beside the rice field at Purok 8, Barangay Bagong Silang, Kapatagan, LDN.

Prior to the shooting incident, it was recounted that the operatives allegedly requested the suspect to surrender calmly holding with a hand fragmentation grenade and allegedly attempted to throw it against the operatives prompting the latter to counteract against the suspect to remove the impending danger to the arresting troops. The suspect sustained gunshot wounds resulted to his death and recovered one (1) hand fragmentation grenade at the crime scene. The dead body of the suspect was turned over to the police for proper disposition with the presence of barangay officials.

In another development, the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa – Mindanao (RPM-M) released a statement that categorically denied the totally baseless and a pure fabrication of the allegations coming from some elements of the government operatives from the Military and Police linking Comrade Ruben to the cold-blooded murder of Dr. Dreyfuss Perlas. The said Comrade Ruben and the suspect, Agapito Tamparong Democer a.k.a “RICO” Tamparong Manatad and alyas “DARWIN” is believed to be the same and one person.

witnesses pointed to the lifeless murder suspect

The RPM-M in a statement said that it is a desperate attempt to paint a criminal image of a revolutionary organization, in bringing the real perpetrators of the murder of the good Doctor to justice presenting a fall guy to avoid pressure from the people and the National government. The RPM-M said that the said Comrade Ruben was an active political and military cadre of the Revolutionary Peoples’ Army (RPA) in defending the peasant communities since it split away from the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP) in 1994 and from the Revolutionary Workers Party-Philippines (RPMP) – Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Bongcayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB) in the early part of 2001.

The RPA is the armed wing of the RPM-M has been present among the areas in Northwestern Mindanao that includes Lanao del Norte since the early 80’s. The RPM-M has signed a ceasefire agreement with the Philippine Government during the Arroyo Administration. The RPA Comrades hold on to this agreement and tried to stay the course of peaceful settlement of the armed conflicts as a result of the extreme poverty of the people. The RPM-M said murder of Comrade Ruben is a violation to this agreement.

The RPM-M in a statement reiterated categorically and vehemently denied any involvement of Comrade Ruben in the murder of Dr. Perlas, as they are as fervent in demanding justice for the Doctor’s death. “Dr. Perlas is not only a big loss to the people of Sapad and of the whole province of Lanao del Norte, he is also a big loss to us because we have known that he had been serving the most neglected and deprived peoples in our areas” RPM-M said in a statement. “In due time, we will make known the results of our own investigation on the murder case of Doctor Perlas” the RPM-M concluded in their statement. Reports by Mike Navarro, Police reports, Press release of 15^th IB, Press Statement of RPM-M, photos by 15^th IB and Dr. Charles Marquez (FB post).