Lawmakers reject DoJ findings on death of botanist, 2 others By Charlie V. Manalo 01/22/2011

Lawmakers reject DoJ findings on death of botanist, 2 others

By Charlie V. Manalo 01/22/2011
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio yesterday denounced the report by the Department of Justice (DoJ) on clearing the military of any liability in the killing of noted botanist Leonardo Co and his two companions in Kananga, Leyte last November.

The report, prepared by a three-person team convened by DoJ Secretary Leila de Lima, blamed the New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas for the killing of Co, forest guard Sofronio Cortez, and farmer Julius Borromeo, and held their employer, the Energy Development Corp., liable for their deaths due to “reckless imprudence.”

“The DoJ report blatantly whitewashes the role of the military in the killing of Co and his companions,” said Tinio. “The whole report is riddled with glaring contradictions, logical fallacies, selective appreciation of eyewitness testimony and physical evidence. Its conclusions are based on assertions unsubstantiated by fact. It’s all too clear that the report bends backwards to accommodate the military’s self-serving account of the incident.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110122nat1.html