Case Unclosed: Multisectoral Fact Finding Mission for Ka Rene

Today marked the 17^th day since that gruesome night Ka Rene Peñas was brutally ambushed near his hard-fought farmland.  Today also marked the launching of the multi-sectoral mission to conduct independent investigation to provide light to the case that involved killing of a real hero, a gentle giant of agrarian reform who fought not only for his own land but stood for many other landless Filipino farmers as well.

The multi-sectoral fact finding mission aimed at conducting an independent Fact Finding Mission (FFM) to be able to gather evidence and other information that could help surface the motive behind the killing of Ka Rene Peñas.  The multi-sectoral group is composed of different organizations and individual advocates and the Diocese of Malaybalay. 

“Senseless killing of a renowned farmer leader is not an ordinary case that investigations rely solely on the reports submitted by the police, but rather digging deeper into the issue would surface not only a killer but the more pressing issue of agrarian-related killings which involves not only the gun-holder himself” said Atty. Normie Batula of BALAOD Mindanaw.  

Ka Rene Peñas was ambushed June 5, 2009 at between 11:30pm to 1:00am the following day in Brgy. San Vicente, Sumilao, Bukidnon while driving a motorcyle.  He sustained nine (9) wounds on the right arm portion, eight (8) wounds at the back portion one of which is on the back portion of the head.  His two (2) companions Samson Dollete and Elizer Peñas survived the incident with bullet wounds.  The scene of the crime is within the vicinity of their reclaimed area. 

At present, the local police zeroed its investigation on the grounds of personal grudge against Rene Peñas.  They held an alleged suspect, Alipio Tumandang, whom the Samson Dollete earlier identified.  Tumandang and Dollete were involved in a land dispute case in which Ka Rene was at the forefront of advocacy.  However, Dollete was still incommunicado as of press time and as Elizer Peñas said it is impossible to pinpoint a gun killer at the scene of the crime was pitch black. 

“Despite inconsistencies in the police report and declaring it as case closed with the capture of Alipio Tumandang, all the more point that there is a strong force raring to flee unpunished, said Ka Rene Cerilla, spokesperson of People’s Campaign for Agrarian Reform Network (AR Now!)

 ”We can not make this as just another addition to unresolved extrajudicial killings in this country, we are keen at solving this case for Justice for Ka Rene. He further said.

The team is set to conduct interviews and mission work within the week.