However, Piedad recanted his statements and issued an Affidavit of Desistance in March 2003 while he was in the provincial jail. He executed his affidavit in front of representatives of Karapatan- Central Visayas and a lawyer.
In the said affidavit, he stated that he did not know Pegoria before and only met her while they were in jail. He further declared that he has not seen any killings anytime in his life, much less in Brgy. Monterico and that his former statements in 2000 were made while he was in the custody of the military in Sogod, Southern Leyte.
Piedad, however, surfaced once again as a witness. This time in the new case filed against the Bayan Muna representative and other personalities. He again issued an affidavit last September 14, 2006, implicating them in the killings in Inopacan, Southern Leyte.
A malicious pattern?
Dennis Abarientos, Secretary General of KARAPATAN-Central Visayas, further revealed that the Asst. Provincial Prosecutor, Rosulo U. Vivero, the one who handled the 2000 case in Baybay is the same fiscal who filed the multiple murder case against Satur Ocampo and others last February 28, 2007, in Hilongos, So.Leyte.
Vivero purposely and even, personally, filed the case in Hilongos. Whats he doing filing a case there when that is not his assignment. Why didnt he file it in Baybay which is so much closer to Inopacan? Is he afraid Baybay Judge Fulache would again dismiss his case? he asked.
They are recycling everything and everyone. Vivero allowed his misplaced personal crusade to interfere in the dispensation of justice, Abarientos stated.
Noemi Truya, the counsel who handled the 2000 case, also doubts the motive behind Viveros recent actions.
Prosecutor Vivero did a sloppy job in this grand conspiracy to implicate Satur and company. How could he forget that he already filed a case for multiple murder for the skeletons found in Brgy. Monterico, Baybay and now he is filing another case for the same skeletons allegedly dug in Inopacan? she exclaimed.
Definitely, it is not an innocent mistake. It is malicious prosecution. He should be held accountable for the needless anxiety and incarcerationn of those he persecuted, Truya declared.
Para niya ug sa mga militar, kapila gyud di-ay ilubong ang patay? she asked. (According to him and the military, how many times will you have to bury the dead?) Bulatlat
Extrajudicial Killings
