NPA Owns Up to the Killing of Loreto Mayor Otaza, Son Daryl

Davao City (PNA) -– The New People’s Army (NPA) has claimed responsibility for the killing of Agusan del Sur town mayor Dario Otaza and his son Daryl Otaza who were found dead at the vicinity of Purok 2, Barangay Bitan-agan, Butuan City on October 19.

In a press statement, NPA Southern Mindanao Regional Command spokesperson, Rigoberto Sanchez said the NPA imposed a death sentence to Otaza and Daryl to give justice to the thousands of indigenous peoples and peasants terrorized by their tyranny in Loreto and surrounding municipalities in Agusan del sur. The NPA accused Otaza and Daryl as Bagani paramilitary leaders.

Sanchez said the NPA Operatives posing as National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) elements raided the Otaza residence in Barangay Baan, Butuan city, subdued Otaza’s security details and confiscated four (4) bushmasters rifles, one (1) AK rifle, one (1) AK 2000 and two (2) 45 cal. pistols. Sanchez said the rebels also found the Otazas in possession of some Php 25,000.00 which had been secured and shall be turned over to their family through a third party at the soonest possible time.

According to Sanchez, the NPA found Otaza and Daryl guilty of committing acts constituting war crimes, crimes against humanity and other violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

The NPA accused Otaza and Daryl for brutal murder and acts of torture of Lumad and ordinary civilians: Benjie Planos of Barangay Kauswagan on September13, 2013; Gabriel Alindao of Barangay Kauswagan on October 10, 2013; Romeo Wagas and Willy Gabisan of Barangay Kauswagan on October 26, 2013 and Gerry Villamo of Datu Ampunan on September 10, 2014.

The Otaza’s were also held responsible for the multiple frustrated murder and robbery of some families residing in km. 16, Barangay Datu Davao, Loreto on September 9, 2014 perpetrated by Bukakang Banggaan and certain Augit and Intoy, members of the Otaza-created Taptap paramilitary group.

Sanchez said Otaza’s paramilitary men identified as Mariel Dioganon, Aki Dioganon, Jordan Dioganon, Abdon Dioganon, Abdon Sinkok, Peping Maambib and Loloy Cedilla were also responsible for the arson and destruction of the homes of the farmers in Barangay Kauswagan in 2013.

Sanchez said the NPA also found Otaza’s Bagani forces as behind the intense military operations jointly conducted with the 26th infantry Battalion Philippine Army under Oplan Bayanihan that resulted to the gruesome rights abuses against the Lumad Population such as the torture of four minors from San Isidro, Loreto; hamletting and imposition of food and economic blockade in five villages in Kauswagan, Loreto; forced evacuation which also translated to the economic dislocation of at least 459 indigenous Manobo individuals from Kauswagan and other villages of Loreto. Many of the evacuees, Sanchez said have not reclaimed their land to this day as their villages continue to be Otaza’s Bagani war zone.

Sanchez also mentioned divestment and destruction of not less than 100 hectares of agricultural and upland farms which have been rehabilitated and tilled by the evacuees after the Typhoon Pablo; attacks and closure of two community-based learning centers which constituted violation of the rights of the children to development and education.

He added that Otaza planned and executed espionage and murder as NCIP provincial Chieftain together with Captain Gusi, officer of MIG-4th Infantry Divisionas part of the AFP ‘s Task Force Gantangan, a major component of the Oplan Bantay Laya 2, the centerpiece of which is the perversion of the Lumad bagani culture.

According to Sanchez, Otaza continued military counter-insurgency and paramilitarism when he became mayor of Loreto in 2010. “Otaza’s Bagani Force and the 26th IB continued their atrocious reign through forcible arrests, fake NPA surrenders, arbitrary detention, psychological warfare, harassment, threats against the families of the NPAs even after entering an agreement brokered by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte with the evacuees that no retaliatory attacks will be waged against them upon their return from evacuation in August 2013,” Sanchez said.

Other accusations against Otaza were detailed by Sanchez in his statement all of which were reportedly perpetrated against lumads and NPA members.

Sanchez said Otaza was complicit in the sell-out of more than 30,000 hectares of lands in Loreto to a foreign palm oil plantation company.

On the other hand, Sanchez said the NPA also found Daryl Otaza as directly participating in the commission of the mentioned crimes and was reportedly a notorious druglord, illegally dealing prohibited drugs in Loreto and surrounding areas.

“Enforcing the death penalty against the Otazas was part of a just and fitting reprisal of the revolutionary movement,” Sanchez said, adding that in waging the people’s war, the NPA has been pursuing revolutionary justice by meting appropriate extreme penalties against war criminals to remove the continuation of conditions of human rights violations and to render justice. (PNA) CTB/LCM/LDP