Notorious ‘Death Squad’ Asset Nabbed in Mindoro

He has been the subject of investigation by human rights groups, the justice department and even by Congress. His case has also been elevated to the United Nations Human Rights Committee. Last week, the notorious alleged military asset, Aniano “Silver” Flores, was placed under police custody and faces murder and other charges.

By dabet castañeda
Bulatlat.com

But Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, in a brief interview with Bulatlat.com, said that Calzado told him Flores had been in police custody since March 18.

Calzado told Bulatlat.com that Flores is now detained at the Roxas City municipal jail. He also said Flores faces charges of murder, illegal logging, harassment and grave threats but did not elaborate. 

The police director said there are private complainants and witnesses in the cases set to be filed against Flores. But he withheld their identities for security reasons.

Calzado also said Flores was arrested on the basis of a warrant of arrest that they received in February. “We have the duty to implement the warrant,” he said. 

He said however that the arrested “military asset” will not be presented to the press, as was reported earlier.

“Mad killer”

Flores has been implicated by human rights groups such as Karapatan and cause-oriented organizations based in Southern Tagalog to a string of human rights cases in Oriental Mindoro. 

In the recent book,“Terror in Mindoro, The Murders of Eden Marcellana and Eddie Gumanoy,” Flores was described as a “notorious rebel returnee” who is wanted for the murder of Bayan Muna-Oriental Mindoro provincial coordinator Edilberto “Choy” Napoles and as one of the perpetrators of the kidnapping-murder of Eden Marcellana and Eddie Gumanoy in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on April 21 last year. Both were found dead the following day in Bansud, in the same province. (The book is published by the Campaign Committee: Justice for Ka Eden and Ka Eddie.)

Flores was positively identified by at least two of the nine witnesses-survivors as one of the heavily armed men wearing ski masks who abducted the two activists.

Marcellana was the secretary general of Karapatan-Southern Tagalog while Gumanoy was the president of the peasant group, Kasama-Timog Katagalugan.

In addition, Flores was also identified by Ruel Landicho, member of the fisherfolk group Pamalakaya-Oriental Mindoro, as the one who shot and killed Napoles on May 26, 2002 a few meters away from the Bayan Muna office in Calapan City, the provincial capital.  Landicho was with Napoles at the time of the incident. 

Flores was also implicated in the murders of the Albarillo couple in April 8, 2002 in Brgy. Calsapa, San Teodoro town.  Expedito and Manuela Albarillo were killed in front of their daughter, Adeliza.  They too were both members of Bayan Muna.

Flores was one of the “rebel returnees” presented by Col. Jovito Palparan, then commander of the 204^th IBPA in Mindoro, to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during her visit to the province in 2001. 

The regional chapter of the human rights alliance Karapatan said that Flores is a member of a “Death Squad” which, it said, is linked to the 204^th IBPA which has its headquarters at Naujan.

Should be held responsible

In the interview with Bulatlat.com Ocampo said that the arrest of Flores was “good news” but should work positively for the victims of human rights violations in the province.  He said Flores should be held responsible for the cases where he was implicated. 

In a separate interview, UN Ad Litem Judge Romeo Capulong said the Public Interest Law Center (PILC), which he chairs, will fast track the prosecution of Flores at the Department of Justice (DoJ).  Two cases have been filed against Flores at the DoJ: that of Napoles and the double murder of Marcellana and Gumanoy.

The double murder case of Marcellana and Gumanoy has been submitted for resolution but the DoJ has not filed a single case against Flores in a lower court, Capulong said.

 “Flores should be presented to the DoJ so that the witnesses can identify him,” he said.  Bulatlat.com

Back to top

We want to know what you think of this article.