Cebu groups say recent case highlights need for Anti-Torture bill
By CARINE M. ASUTILLA, ABS-CBN News Central Visayas | 02/11/2009 2:18 AM
The Central Visayas chapter of human rights group Karapatan said its is challenging the House of Representatives to pass the House Bill 3259 or the Anti-Torture Bill after an alleged communist rebel was tortured while in the hands of the military and police.
Ramon Patriarca, who security forces allege is the taxation and finance officer of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Central Visayas, was reported to have suffered bruises and was traumatized in the hands of the military and police.
Last Monday, Patriarca during the hearing of a petition for writ of amparo showed the court all his bruises.
Patriarca said that he got them during the tactical interrogation that the police and military conducted four days since his arrest at Barangay Casili in Consolacion town in Cebu province last February 5.
Presiding Judge Geraldine Faith Econg of Cebu City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 9 granted the petition for writ of amparo filed by the camp of Patriarca against Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) and Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Central Command.
Patriarca was then placed under the custody of the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Witness Protection Program.
State prosecutor Graeme June Elmido said that Patriarca will be watched over by DOJ Marshals. The police and military will only be there to augment, he said.
Elmido said that Patriarca can be visited by his lawyer and family at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Danao City.
Like in Martial Law
Dennis Abarrientos, Karapatan secretary general, said that the hearing on the petition of writ of amparo only showed that the act of torturing an arrestee is still being practiced by the police and military as if the Martial Law era is not yet over.
Abarrientos said that the case should serve as an eye-opener for lawmakers to act immediately on the Anti-Torture Bill.
Arman Perez, Bayan Muna secretary general, said that several Cebu representatives to Congress’s lower chamber are co-authors of the said bill. Perez mentioned 6th district Rep. Nerrisa Soon-Ruiz, 2nd district Pablo Garcia and 3rd district Rep Pablo John Garcia.
Perez said they are appealing to their representatives to urgently push for the passage of the bill.
Perez said that the bill ahs already passed the House Human Rights Committee and has been submitted to the plenary for discussion.
Perez said that those who practice torture would be punished if the bill will be enacted.
Threat of similar treatment?
Meanwhile, colleagues of lawyer Poch Sinco in Community Empowerment Resource Network Inc. (CERNET) expressed their fear for the life of Sinco.
Tiray Alcaseba said that Patriarca mentioned in the court hearing last Monday that some military and police personnel mentioned that they would also want Sinco to undergo the same torture that Patriarca underwent.
Patriarca told the court that he was punched several times, was made to wear a diaper, and was soaked in water.
Alcaseba said that as much as they are condemning what happened to Patriarca, they are also condemning the act and the attitude of the police and military who are supposed to be defenders of human rights and protectors of the people.
as of 02/11/2009 2:18 AM
No comments:
Post a Comment