HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

Torture of 2 NPA Suspects to be Raised to JMC

The recently-launched Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) of the government and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) will probably have its first case for investigation when the reported torture of two NPA suspects will be brought to it. Arrested together with two civilians, the two NPA suspects were reported subjected to torture by their Army captors.

By Tyrone Velez
Bulatlat.com Mindanao Bureau

DAVAO CITY -- The 60th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army finds itself the target of criticism from human-rights group Karapatan for setting a record in the number of human-rights violations committed in one week.

Karapatan Southern Mindanao Region (SMR) reports that last April 25, the 60th IB captured two alleged New People’s Army (NPA) members and two civilians, illegally detained them for a week without legal counsel and subjected them to torture.

Captured by the 60th IB were Jordan Donillo, 32, and Delfin Mabayao, both of Barangay (village) Cabuyuan in Mabini town; Rexan Esperanza, 17, and Antonio Enable.

Karapatan said the four were captured on April 25 by an operating team of the 60th IB in Cabuyuan.  They were captured from the house of Delfin Mabayao, a Lumad farmer.

Witnesses said the four captives were brought to Sitio Kabaratic, Barangay Panamin. Only Donillo and Esperanza, the suspected NPA members, were brought by the military.

The families of Donillo and Esperanza sought the help of Karapatan and Mabini Mayor Reynaldo Dayanghirang to ask for the release of the two captured individuals.

The 60th IB commanding officer Edgardo Gonzales repeatedly turned down their requests.  On the first day of their visit, Gonzales reasoned that they could not present Donillo and Esparanza to the group as the Charlie Company that captured the two was not in the camp.

The following day, the parents were only allowed to see their sons at a distance, and were not allowed to talk.  The commanding officer this time reasoned that they have to interrogate the two captives.

The group went back the next day and still Gonzales claimed they are still interrogating the captives. But this time, marks of torture were obvious in the bodies of Donillo and Esperanza.

The two were eventually released after a week to the custody of the Mabini police, who took them to jail without bail on charges of rebellion.

Karapatan SMR lambasted the 60th IB for the incident.  Ariel Casilao, Karapatan SMR secretary-general, said Donillo and Esperanza were not accorded treatment befitting prisoners of war, non-combatants and civilians.

Casilao said the 60th IB violated the rights of Donillo and Esperanza to remain silent, to counsel and to due process of persons under custody. 

Karapatan said that they will file this case together with the families of Donillo and Esperanza to the newly formed Joint Secretariat of the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) as mandated by the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) for immediate investigation. Bulatlat.com

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