This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com).
Vol. VI, No. 21, July 4, 2006
BY A human rights
group in Central Luzon denounced the illegal arrest and arbitrary
detention by soldiers and police of seven leaders and members of a
transport group in Angeles City, Pampanga province (83 kms. north of
Manila) yesterday morning. Sr. Cecile Ruiz,
coordinator of Karapatan-Central Luzon (Alliance for the Advancement of Human
Rights) said that at 11 a.m. yesterday, a joint team of soldiers of the 56th
and 69th Infantry Battalions and the Philippine National Police
barged into the house of Archie de Jesus in Malabanias village, Angeles City
where those arrested were having a meeting. Ruiz identified the
arrested as Ernesto Gonzales Lipio, 41, married, of Muzon village, San Jose del
Monte, Bulacan, William Aguilar, 30, married, of Lourdes Sur village, Joe
Bernardino, 44, of Trinidad Village, both in Angeles City, Jose Ramos, 44,
married, an engineer of Mabiga village, Mabalacat town in Pampanga, Fernando
Poblacion, 42, single of Tarlac city, Tarlac province, Jay Francis Aquino, 25
and single of Guisad, Baguio city, and De Jesus, the owner of the house. Lipio is a leader of
Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) in
Bulacan, and a member of the Piston National Council, while Aguilar is also a
Piston-Central Luzon leader and organizer of the Kilusang Mayo Uno. The five
others were also members and organizers of Piston. Ruiz said De Jesus said the
arresting men led by PNP Supt. Policarpio Segubre of PNP Angeles City, did not
have a warrant of arrest, and yet forced themselves into De Jesus’ house. The
victims were forced to board a Delica van and were detained at the
headquarters of the 174th PNP command in Brgy. Sto. Domingo, Angeles
City.
Families of the seven were still not allowed to
see or talk to them. Bulatlat © 2006 Bulatlat
■
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Posted 1:52 p.m. July 4, 2006