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MANILA, Philippines?Human rights group Karapatan on Thursday said there was a ?conspiracy? in the death of interpreter for US soldiers Gregan Cardeño, adding his death was a ?heinous crime? committed right at the barracks of US troops in Marawi City.
The group also belied claims that Cardeño committed suicide after Karapatan?s independent fact-finding body discovered that there could have been foul play in Cardeño?s death.
Cardeño, who works as an interpreter for the US troops, was found dead inside his room at the barracks of the US troops in Marawi City last February 3. Authorities ruled Cardeño?s death as suicide.
But Karaptan secretary general Lovella de Castro said that based on the results of their fact-finding mission conducted from March 2 to 5, the group, together with Kawagib Moro Human Rights Center and Inpeace-Zamboanga, found inconsistencies in the testimonies of local police and US troops as well as autopsy results.
Citing the report of Senior Police Officer 3 Ali Guibon Rangiris, Karapatan said the police investigator said that it was Captain Kay, the leader of the US Forces, who personally went to the police station to report Cardeño?s death.
But in a separate interview with the fact-finding team, Kay said he called the police station to report the incident, de Castro said.
De Castro also said that Rangiris told the human rights team that there were no other wounds on Cardeño?s body except the ligature marks on his neck.
But de Castro said that based on pictures taken during the autopsy, there were puncture wounds on the upper right foot, the inner leg, and the upper right arm.
?These wounds belied the statement of SPO3 Rangiris that he looked for defensive wounds on the arms,? de Castro said.
Also citing the statements of Kay and Col. Felix Castro, the deputy commander of the 103rd brigade, Karapatan said that they found inconsistencies on the statements of the two officials.
For one, Kay reportedly told Karapatan that they work in close coordination with Castro and his men, but this was allegedly denied by Castro.
?Capt. Kay said the Armed Forces hired Gregan as interpreter to the US troops. But Col. Castro said they only knew of Gregan?s presence inside the camp on Wednesday when Capt. Kay informed him of Gregan?s death,? Karaptan said.
Gregan?s relatives also do not believe Gregan took his own life, according to Karapatan.
?Because the victim had prior conversations with his wife and sister, confessing that he was not brought to Cotabato City, instead to Marawi City and the nature of his work was inconsistent to what he was asked to do when he arrived at the barracks of the US troops,? Karapatan said.
Because of this, Karapatan has sought the help of the Commission on Human Rights as well as the House of Representatives to look into Cardeño?s death.
