Party-list legislators from Mindanao on Thursday said they would seek a congressional investigation into the killing of a Moro trader in Nueva Ecija whose body was also allegedly burned.
Anak Mindanao congressmen Mujiv Hataman and Amihilda Sangcopan were set to file a resolution in aid of legislation on the matter as they are “extremely alarmed” over the kidnapping and murder of Muslim trader Nadia Casar in Nueva Ecija by alleged members of the Nueva Ecija police force.
According to initial investigation, Sangcopan and Hataman said Casar and the driver of transport network vehicle service that Casar hired, were kidnapped by at least five men early afternoon on July 20 in Barangay Tagpos, Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija.
After the TNVS driver was robbed of his cellular phone and cash, he was released by the kidnappers at around three in the morning on July 21. In August the charred and decimated remains of Casar were discovered in Sitio Pinagpala, Barangay Imelda Valley, Palayan City, where her body parts were sacked and buried by the suspects.
“We strongly condemn the brutal and monstrous killing of Casar. We condemn such utter disregard for life! Matapos nilang dukutin at paslangin ay pinagputol-putol at sinunog pa nila ang bangkay ng aming kababayang Moro. We demand that these murderers be brought to justice and pay dearly for their crimes,” Sangcopan said.
Sangcopan added that while National Police Chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on August 3 ordered the immediate dismissal from the service of five policemen allegedly involved in the kidnapping and murder of Casar, she said that the ultimate justice must not just end in the dismissal of the murderers but also in the filing of charges in court.
“We appreciate the swift action of Gen. Eleazar for looking into the case and the filing of dismissal of the five involved cops, but we also want to be assured, as well as the public, Muslims or not, that this will not happen again, especially when it involves PNP uniformed men”.
In a statement, Eleazar identified the police officers accused of the abducting and killing Casar as Staff Sgt. Benedict Matias Reyes, assigned at the Sta. Rosa Municipal Police Station in Nueva Ecija; Staff Sgt. June Malillin of the Palayan City Police Station; Cpl. Julius Alcantara of the Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office Drug Enforcement Unit; Master Sgt. Rowen Martin, assigned at the Cabanatuan City Police Station; and Staff Sgt. Drextemir Esmundo, assigned at the Cabiao Municipal Police Station.
Apart from the five policemen, two other civilian cohorts were identified as Franklin Macapagal and Dario Robarios.
Three of the five police suspects remained at large.
Casar was a jewelry seller who turned to selling her merchandize online to support her ailing parents. Her family and relatives are crying out for justice, and even appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte for help.
Meanwhile, Muslim communities from different parts of the country are also enraged over the fate of Casar.