"NPA rebels kill 8 policemen, village official" and other stories - August 22-27, 2010

NPA rebels kill 8 policemen, village official

The Manila Times – www.manilatimes.net

Sunday, August 22, 2010

COMMUNIST guerrillas killed eight policemen and a local official in coordinated attacks in Samar on Saturday, the police commander for the region said.

New People’s Army (NPA) gunmen murdered a village official at his home at dawn and then ambushed a police patrol sent to investigate the killing, said Chief Supt. Arnold Revilla, Eastern Visayas regional police director.

The rebels set off a roadside bomb as the patrol approached the village official’s home, then raked it with gunfire, Revilla told reporters by telephone.

He said the dead included the deputy police commander of Catarman City, Senior Insp. Necasio San Antonio.

The attackers then stole the victims’ firearms, he added.

Revilla said police reinforcements were flown by helicopter into the hamlet, near Catarman on Samar Island, amid concern that there were more unexploded bombs on the village road.

The 5,000-member NPA has been waging a Maoist rebellion across much of the Philippines since 1969 that has left thousands of people dead. AFP

5 soldiers killed in attack

By Al Jacinto

The Manila Times – www.manilatimes.net

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

ZAMBOANGA CITY: New People’s Army (NPA) insurgents killed at least five soldiers during a minutes-long clash early on Tuesday, officials said. Another soldier was also wounded in the fighting that broke out in Veruela town’s Fortuna village, after dozens of rebels attacked a military detachment.

The row lasted several minutes, stopping only when the attackers retreated to the hills. There was no word whether any one of them was wounded or killed.

The army’s spokesman Lt. Col. Triumph Dominic Bagaipo of 4th Infantry Division said that there was an ongoing operation “aimed at tracking down the rebels in the province.”

The armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the NPA has been fighting for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country for decades now.

5 soldiers killed in NPA attack on outpost

By Frinston Lim

Philippine Daily Inquirer – www.inquirer.net

Friday, August 27, 2010

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Five soldiers were killed in an attack by New People’s Army rebels in a village in Veruela town, Agusan del Sur, on early Tuesday, the military said.

A soldier, Pfc. Cesar Sadjail, was also wounded following the assault by NPA rebels in an Army outpost in La Fortuna village at 1:45 a.m., Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesperson of the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command, said.

Lt. Col. Dominic Triumph Bagaipo, spokesperson of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said at least 30 rebels, believed to be from the NPA’s Guerrilla Front 3 Southern Mindanao Regional Committee, swooped down on the newly established command post of the 26th Infantry Battalion’s Charlie Company.

Bagaipo, in a statement to the Inquirer, the rebel attack lasted for at least 15 minutes.

Bus torched in Lanao; 2 cops gunned down

By Mike Frialde and Lino De La Cruz

The Philippine Star – www.philstar.com

Friday, August 27, 2010

MANILA, Philippines - Unidentified armed men stopped a passenger bus in Lanao del Norte early yesterday and killed the bus driver, the conductor and two police marshals.

Reports reaching Camp Crame said the armed men later torched the RTMI bus (body number 1516).

According to reports, the bus was passing through Barangay Balili in Kapatagan town at about 1:20 a.m. when it was stopped by armed men manning a checkpoint. It was at this point when the gunmen shot dead the unidentified bus driver and conductor and the two police marshals identified as PO3 Rosalito Obatay and PO3 Jovito Cabigas.

Senior Superintendent Orlando Benas, police provincial director said the passenger bus was headed for Zamboanga City from Cagayan de Oro City and when it reached Barangay Balili in Kapatagan town, armed rebels stopped the bus and ordered all passengers to come down.

However, the rebels were able to identify two policemen who were among the passengers and shot them, together with the driver and conductor. The police did not release the names of the casualties as of press time.

Based on initial investigations, the alleged rebels were wearing camouflaged uniforms and claimed to be members of the New People’s Army (NPA). They established a checkpoint along the highway and stopped the passenger bus before shooting the victims and torching the bus. However, reports also showed that extortion could have been the motive and the police is still investigating the case further.

Police said the bus attacked Thursday was traveling from Cagayan de Oro to Zamboanga city in Lanao del Norte, where Muslim rebels and criminal gangs operate – when it was flagged down at a road checkpoint by gunmen in police uniforms.

Benas said the marshals were deployed on regional buses plying the same highway after gunmen early this month held up a bus to extort money from passengers. – With Alexis Romero

"Public outraged over video showing police torturing suspect" and other news updates - August 19-20, 2010

Public outraged over video showing police torturing suspect
By William B. Depasupil
The Manila Times – www.manilatimes.net
Thursday, 19 August 2010

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday launched an investigation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) amid public outrage over a video showing an officer torturing a naked man. The graphic video, which ABS-CBN television said it had obtained from an unidentified informant who recorded it on a cell phone, showed the officer in civilian clothes whipping the man with what appeared to be a stick.

A rope appeared to be tied to the victim’s penis, which the torturer would yank in between blows to the body.

“This is very disturbing. They treated him worse than an animal,” said Coco Quisumbing, the CHR chairman, who had reviewed the clip.

“This is the very first time that this happened [actual torture caught on video] and it is groundbreaking,” she added.

“Police should now submit to our investigation in a timely manner,” Quisumbing told an ABS-CBN radio affiliate.

While allegations of torture and extra-judicial killings carried out by police and military are nothing new, Tuesday’s airing of the video was the first time such incident was shown on public television.

ABS-CBN did not say when it took place, and the fate of the victim was unclear.

One of those who had closely reviewed the clip at the rights commission said she could hear the torturer berating the victim as a criminal.

The Manila police commander, Chief Supt. Rodolfo Magtibay, said that the incident appeared to have taken place in a police station under his jurisdiction.

He confirmed that the torturer was a police officer who had since been sacked from his post and was now under investigation related to possible criminal charges.

“There is no place for a policeman like that,” Magtibay said.

The PNP high command also on Wednesday vowed to prosecute policemen involved in the reported torture of a robbery suspect inside a police community precinct (PCP) in Manila, setting the tone for a wider investigation of similar incidents perpetrated by policemen elsewhere in the country.

The PNP chief, Director Gen. Jesus Verzosa also ordered the creation of Investigation Task Group (ITG) Asuncion that will conduct a thorough probe of the incident, which happened at PCP 2 in Asuncion in Manila’s Tondo district.

He further ordered that a neuropsychiatric evaluation be conducted on the station commander, Senior Insp. Joselito Binayug, and all personnel of PCP 2 and be made to undergo the 30-day Character and Aptitude Development Training (CADET) program at the PNP Values and Leadership School in Zambales.

Binayug and his men were also removed from their posts.

“Such actions do not have any place in an organization that espouses respect for human rights,” Verzosa said, adding that based on results of the investigation and recommendations of IT-Asuncion, all those responsible would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law to prevent a repetition of the same.

“Any form of brutality and abuse of authority by PNP personnel ill not be tolerated and will be dealt with swiftly and decisively according to our disciplinary rules and internal policy,” he added.

Verzosa named Chief Supt. Roberto Rongavilla, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) deputy regional director for administration, as head of ITG-Asuncion with investigators from the NCRPO, Internal Affairs Service, and the PNP Human Rights Affairs Office as members.

A spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Senior Supt. Agremiro Cruz Jr, said that aside from criminal liability, the policemen involved also face dismissal from the service if found guilty.

Initially, investigators are looking at apparent violation of Republic Act 9745, or the Anti-Torture Act of 2009, and other specific violations of existing rules and procedures on the disposition of arrested criminal offenders.

Cruz assured the full cooperation and support of all concerned PNP units and offices in separate investigations being conducted by other government agencies and disciplinary bodies.

WITH REPORT FROM AFP




Cop in torture video faces raps
By Tina Santos, Jeannette Andrade
Philippine Daily Inquirer – www.inquirer.net
Friday, August 20, 2010

MANILA, Philippines—Administrative charges will be filed against a Manila police precinct commander and 13 of his men who were allegedly involved in torturing a robbery suspect, a video footage of which was shown on national television on Tuesday.

“There’s no need for a complainant filing the administrative case. Visual evidence is enough,” Leocadio Santiago, director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), told reporters.

Santiago said the NCRPO would be able to determine the civil and criminal liability of Senior Insp. Joselito Binayug and other policemen involved in two weeks.

“We will be filing a case against Binayug for dereliction of duty but we want something heavier,” Santiago said. “There’s no place for policemen like him in the police force.”

Binayug and his men were relieved after a television news video showed the footage, shot using a cell phone camera, of a naked and bound man, grimacing apparently in great pain on the floor of what was described as the precinct station on Asuncion Street in Tondo, Manila.

The man tugging at the string tied to the genitals of the suspect each time he failed to answer a question was identified as Binayug.

Also on the video were men said to be policemen hitting the suspect while others were looking on.

Binayug has been under restricted custody of Chief Supt. Rodolfo Magtibay, Manila Police District (MPD) director, according to Santiago.

The entire police unit under Binayug will be assigned to a regional training unit while undergoing investigation, the NCRPO chief said.

International issue

The Philippine National Police has formed Task Force Asuncion to probe the alleged torture and determine the appropriate charges against the perpetrators.

“This has become a national issue and even an international issue. We won’t be satisfied filing administrative charges. Criminal charges must also be filed,” Santiago said.

The PNP said the police officers would be investigated if they violated Republic Act No. 9745, or the Anti-Torture Act of 2009.

Binayug denied any knowledge of the video purportedly showing him as the torturer.

“I will face it in a proper forum. Let my counsel speak on my behalf,” he told reporters at the MPD headquarters on UN Avenue. He granted the interview on the condition that there would be no cameras and tape recorders.

Binayug, who has been in the police service for 15 years, said he did not know anything about what was shown on TV when asked about it.

Visibly anxious over the accusation, Binayug paced the floor, sat and stood up from an arm chair as he spoke to reporters. He constantly fiddled with his mobile phones and toyed with a ball cap, alternately removing and wearing it.

He made comments about previous cases he handled in which he figured in shoot-outs with suspected robbers and emphasized that the incidents had complainants.

Reputation destroyed

Binayug seemed to be fighting back tears when he remarked that with his reputation destroyed he was more concerned with his children.

He briefly mentioned that one of his children had been held up near a precinct and told reporters that if they had children, they would know how it felt.

In an attempt to curb the torture of suspects, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said it would probe police personnel facing various charges.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo told the Inquirer on Wednesday that the DILG would review records of cases filed against policemen and their service records to determine if any of them would need to be relieved and to undergo a new round of neuropsychiatric evaluation.

“We want to send a message that this kind of behavior and culture will not be tolerated,” Robredo said.

He also said he would move to make the investigations against alleged abuses committed by police personnel “speedier and more credible.”

As interior secretary, Robredo chairs the National Police Commission (Napolcom) which has administrative and operational control over the PNP.

A charge of kidnap for ransom was filed in 2005 by the National Bureau of Investigation against Binayug and five other policemen of the Western Police District (now the Manila Police District).

Binayug, then a police lieutenant, and his men allegedly posed as agents of the NBI and abducted mobile phone store owner Roberto Ong. The businessman was allegedly released after coughing up P18,000 in cash and more than P1 million worth of mobile phones.

But Binayug Thursday said that the only charge he ever faced was an administrative case where he failed to appear before a court for a hearing in a drug case.

Magtibay told the Inquirer that the MPD would be looking into incidents in which Binayug figured in shoot-outs with suspected robbers.

Based on reports, Binayug and his men last figured in an alleged shoot-out with a suspected robber on Aug. 13. Apart from that incident, he engaged suspects in armed encounters in which one of his men or he himself was victimized by robbers.

Best police outpost

The Asuncion precinct, which Binayug leads, was awarded in January by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim as the best police outpost of the year during the MPD anniversary, for at least six instances in which the police captain and his men neutralized suspected robbers in armed encounters.

As part of the investigation, Magtibay said he had directed the Asuncion precinct to surrender its blotter book to the NCRPO task force to establish the time when the video was taken and to determine the identity of the victim.

“We are hoping that other policemen who know something about this come out in the open and describe in detail what happened,” he said.

The MPD director said not all of policemen assigned to the precinct were involved in the actual torture but the policemen were suspended as part of standard operating procedure.

Norm

Magtibay described the alleged torture at the precinct as an isolated case. “We will not allow the few rogues to destroy the institution,” he said.

But the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said mistreatment of criminal suspects appeared to be the norm for law enforcement officers.

“There really is a problem with how the police treat the suspects,” CHR Commissioner Cecilia Quisumbing said. In the first semester of 2010 alone, the CHR recorded “more than 200 cases of police maltreatment.”

The CHR is investigating the torture of the suspected thief caught on video, and is helping identify the suspect.

The Office of the Ombudsman has also formed a task force to probe the criminal culpability of the policemen. This is the first time that the Ombudsman would investigate law enforcement members for violating the Anti-Torture Act. With reports from Kristine L. Alave and Alcuin Papa



Police brutality inside cop HQ to test Anti-Torture Act
By Jeamma E. Sabate
The Manila Bulletin – www.mb.com.ph
Friday, August 20, 2010

The torture of a suspected thief inside a police precinct will put to test the recently passed Anti-Torture Act.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said on Thursday individuals involved should be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

“It is time to put this piece of legislation (Anti-Torture Act) to the test and see if it can be an effective tool for greater accountability and diminished impunity,” De Lima added.

The DoJ secretary issued the statement on Thursday as she said more heads will roll in connection with the torture of the suspected thief inside a prison cell in Tondo, Manila, saying the policemen’s immediate superiors should be held liable due to command responsibility.

De Lima said the head of the police station which has jurisdiction over the Manila Police District-Asuncion Community Precinct (PCP) in Tondo, Manila should be asked to explain why he should not be held liable for the torture of the suspect who later died.

“They can always say that they are not present at that time. But investigation should extend as to whether or not the superiors have prior or subsequent knowledge of the torture of whether they exercise due diligence (supervision) on their personnel to avoid such incident of torture or cruelty. If the head or heads of the police station knew the incident only afterwards, he should have taken actions,” she said.

De Lima lauded the Manila Police District (MPD) for relieving the police officers reportedly present during the torture, but said the investigation should also extend to their immediate superiors.

“That’s why we have command responsibility. The victim eventually died, and the imposable penalty depends on the consequent of such act. And since the victim died, although it is not yet determined if he indeed died due (to torture), then the imposable penalty is the maximum which is reclusion perpetua,” she said.

De Lima said she would still determine if the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will conduct parallel investigation. “The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) can conduct its own probe, the PNP should conduct an honest- to- goodness investigation since it involved PNP personnel. Let’s see if there is need for the NBI to conduct a probe baka naman kasi marami, but it may only do more harm than good,” she said.

She also said the case should prosper whether the one who took the video surfaces or not. “They said there is no complainant because the one who took the video has yet to surface. That should not be the case. They can ask the policemen who were supposedly present during the time and conduct the probe,” she said.

De Lima said there is no place in our society for the sickening practice of torture. “There is no place within our law enforcement agencies for individuals capable of engaging in something so despicable," said De Lima.

“It is time to put this piece of legislation to the test and see if it can be an effective tool for greater accountability and diminished impunity,” De Lima added.

Reports said the entire force of a police precinct in Tondo, Manila was relieved last Wednesday and Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay, MPD director, ordered an investigation over a cell- phone video showing one of the police officers torturing a suspect through his sex organ, while the others merely watched.

Magtibay said all 20 members of the Asuncion community precinct were relieved, effective on Wednesday, following the relief on Tuesday of the precinct commander, Senior Inspector Joselito Binayug.



PNP assures probe on alleged video torture
By Francis T. Wakefield
The Manila Bulletin – www.mb.com.ph
Friday, August 20, 2010

The chief of the Philippine National Police-Human Rights Affairs Office on Thursday assured that steps have already been taken to get to the bottom of the alleged torture committed by members of the Manila Police District (MPD) against an alleged robbery suspect.

Police Chief Supt Franklin Bucayu, chief of the PNP Human Rights Affairs Office, said that the PNP headed by Police Director General Jesus A. Versoza does not tolerate such acts and that steps have already been done to investigate and punish those who are allegedly part of it.

Earlier, the National Capital Region Police Office chief, Director Leocadio Santiago ordered the relief of Senior Inspector Joselito Binayug, precinct commander of Asuncion in Tondo and his men following the airing on television news channel ABS-CBN of a cell phone footage showing the alleged torture of a robbery suspect.

Bucayu said that as a result of the incident, the PNP has created “Task Group Asuncion” composed of members of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Intelligence Group (IG) the MPD and the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) to probe the matter.

“The task force is already conducting an investigation regarding the incident. Aside from that, Senior Inspector Joselito Binayog has already been relieved of his post, disarmed and will undergo formal investigation. He has been assigned to the MPD pending the result of the probe,” Bucayu said.

Bucayu said that they are also in favor of enforcing stiffer sanctions against those committing torture on civilians or alleged criminals to prevent them from doing such acts.

He added that since the creation of the PNP’s Human Rights Affairs Office three years ago, they have been doing their best to educate their policemen on how to promote human rights in the enforcement of their job.

“We have not been sleeping on our jobs in enforcing discipline on our policemen. In fact, since the start of the year, we already have three policemen dismissed from service, one suspension and another one under preventive suspension. We will try to improve more on this,” he said.



Fact- finding body formed to probe report of missing farmer
By Freddie G. Lazaro
The Manila Bulletin – www.mb.com.ph
Friday, August 20, 2010

VIGAN CITY — The law enforcement agencies and Ilocos Sur’s local government created a fact finding body to investigate reports of 20 fully armed uniformed men roaming the countryside and a farmer missing in an upland town in the province.

The investigating body is composed of the police represented by Ilocos Sur police director Senior Superintendent Eduardo Dopale, the Philippine Army represented by Colonel Rogelio Migote, Commander of the army’s 50th Infantry Battalion and the provincial government of Ilocos Sur led by Governor Luis Chavit Singson, Vice Governor Deogracias Victor DV B. Savellano, Provincial Board Members Orlino Tesoro and Robert Tudayan.

The factfinding body was sought by provincial board member Tudayan during a privilege speech in a regular session who wanted an investigation into reports of missing farmer identified as Nicolas Ramos, a resident from Barangay Poblacion, Salcedo, Ilocos Sur and the presence of abusive fully – armed uniformed men who claimed themselves as New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Salcedo, Galimuyod and Santa Lucia towns in the province.

Tudayan said that Ramos, an uncle of slain NPA member Randy Ramos, was reported missing since July 24, 2010 and was allegedly kidnapped by the reported armed men wandering in the towns of Salcedo, Galimuyod and Santa Lucia when he went to Barangay Dinaratan, Salcedo town to help his relatives in planting rice.

There was a report that before Ramos went missing, fully armed men were seen near his house.

According to Tudayan, sometime on the third week of July or before Ramos went missing, he received reports from civilians about the presence 20 fully-armed men who identified themselves as NPA rebels roaming around Barangay Baracbac, Galimuyod, Ilocos Sur.

He said that these armed men were reportedly harassing the local residents while soliciting rice and other foods and took what they want from them.

These armed men were also looting fishponds maintained by the local folk near the rivers in Galimuyod town and they also engaged cattle and goat rustling in the towns of Salcedo and Santa Lucia.

“Because of these malicious, unlawful and shocking activities of the armed group, the residents reported it to the commander of the CAFGU unit based in Barangay Bitong, Galimuyod town but to their dismay, their pleas fell on deaf ears,” Tudayan said.



I’m not hiding -- Binayug
by Jerico Javier & Alfred Dalizon
People’s Journal – www.journal.com.ph
Friday, August 20, 2010

“I will face it in a proper forum and let my counsel speak on my behalf.”

Thus said embattled Senior Insp. Joselito Binayug during an interview with selected media personnel yesterday afternoon.

Binayug, who was relieved as commander of the Manila Police District’s Asuncion Community Precinct together with his entire personnel, vehemently denied that he was hiding since the controversial video footage saying he immediately submitted himself for investigation right after the video showing police brutality was shown on ABS-CBN Channel 2 last Tuesday.

Binayug also declined to confirm if he was the policeman in the video footage who was shown torturing a suspected robber.

The controversial cop, who bore a stoic expression, also talked about his experience as a policeman but insisted that all his statement should be off the record.

“Basta ’yun lang po ang statement ko, lahat po ng sasabihin ko sa inyo off the record,” Binayug added.

He also did not allow reporters to write down notes, to use recorders and to take any pictures or video.

Binayug, who was wearing baseball cap, even got mad to a reporter when he saw the latter writing on notebook.

But the police officer later apologized for berating the reporter.

“Pasensiya na, sana naiintindihan n’yo ang kalagayan ko ngayon,” he said.

On the other hand, Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus A. Verzosa yesterday said Binayug has been placed under 24-hour guard.

Verzosa described the the video as “disgusting” and a “totally unwarranted action” by the policemen involved.

Verzosa added Binayug was also undergoing a formal investigation.

He said that members of the Special Investigation Task Group Asuncion are now digging the records of Binayug amid reports that he is facing a number of criminal and administrative charges.

On orders of Verzosa, Binayug and 21 of his men who were also sacked from their post will be subjected to neuro-psychiatric (NP) evaluation, and will be made to undergo the 30-day Character and Aptitude Development Training (CADET) program at the PNP Values and Leadership School in Subic.

The PNP chief also ordered concerned PNP units and offices to fully cooperate in separate investigations to be conducted by other government agencies and disciplinary bodies regarding the matter.

PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Agrimero A. Cruz Jr. said the task group composed of investigators from the National Capital Region Police Office, the PNP Human Rights Affairs Office and the PNP Internal Affairs Service is interviewing concerned policemen, complainants and witnesses as part of the investigation.

The fact-finding group is headed by NCRPO deputy regional director for administration Chief Supt. Roberto Rongavilla.

"SolGen defends PNP, AFP in first torture case under Aquino" - 11 August 2010 (Wednesday)

SolGen defends PNP, AFP in first torture case under Aquino
By Tonette Orejas
Philippine Daily Inquirer – www.inquirer.net
Wednesday, August 11, 2010

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The Office of the Solicitor General asked a court here on Tuesday to dismiss a case that named two police and military officials in a petition for a writ of amparo in connection with the detention and supposed torture of five suspected communist rebels last week.

Emmanuel Caluyo, counsel for Senior Supt. Petronio Retirado, Pampanga police director, and Col. Ernesto Benitez, deputy commander of the Army’s 703rd Infantry Battalion, said the case should be dismissed because “it was not able to comply with the rules and it lacks merit.”

Caluyo declined to elaborate on these during an interview. He submitted an explanation to Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Serafin David who issued the writ on Aug. 4.

Continued protection

David, however, inhibited himself from the case owing to his being familiar with lawyer Ricardo Sagmit, who represents the relatives of Lenin Salas, Rodwin Tala, Jose Gomez, Daniel Navarro and Jerry Simbulan.

David has set the case for a special raffle today (Aug. 11, Wednesday).

Sagmit said he was not withdrawing the writ although the police have already presented the five men to the provincial prosecutor for inquest on Aug. 4.

“The purpose of the writ is to seek continuing protection of the relatives. There is a necessity to continue because of threats,” said Sagmit.

Also on Aug. 4, the police turned over to the provincial jail the five men who were suspected to be leaders and members of Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan. The suspects denied they were rebels.

No rebellion?

Salas and Navarro are detained for two murder cases and charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. Tala, Gomez and Simbulan are held for gun possession charges, court records showed.

Their case for torture was submitted on Monday to the Commission on Human Rights, making the five men the first “medically documented” set of torture victims under the Aquino administration and after the passage of the Anti-Torture Act of 2009 (Republic Act No. 9745) last year.

The case cited the actions and statements of Supt. Madzgani Mukaram, head of the police’s provincial public safety command, during the interrogation and torture.

Wounds from clash

Mukaram had denied maltreating the five men, saying their wounds, swelling and cuts documented in a medico-legal report of the regional police could have been obtained in a clash with government troops on July 30.

President Aquino has challenged communist rebels to lay down their firearms before any talks could proceed, saying while the government was ready to talk, he was asking communist leaders if they were ready, too.

Talks with the communists have collapsed under the administration of ex-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo after the United States and European Union listed the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed component, New People’s Army, as terrorist organizations.

"Rebel atrocities won’t derail peace agenda, says military", "NCRPO open to investigation on theft gang leader's death" and other news - Aug 3-5, 2010

Rebel atrocities won’t derail peace agenda, says military
By Elena L. Aben
The Manila Bulletin – www.mb.com.ph
Tuesday, August 3, 2010

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Tuesday said it has recorded at least 11 new atrocities, including liquidation of five people and burning of business properties, committed by the New People’s Army but will continue to stick to the government’s peace stance.

According to the AFP Civil Relations Service (CRS), the military views these attacks as desperate attempts by some NPA factions to conceal the declining status of the CPP/NPA as well as to pressure government not to pursue its peace agenda.

“It challenges the CPP/NPA leadership to direct its members to stop these attacks if they truly have the best interest of the country in mind.

The AFP, however, insists that doors for dialogues remain open to those who would want peaceful resolution,” said Maj. Gen. Victor Felix, deputy chief of staff for Civil Military Operations a military official.

“We ascertain NPA members that even without military action, the atrocities they are conducting are indirectly hurting the rebels themselves and their families,” Felix said.

“Their attacks did not only harm the targeted business entities, or of the families of the victims, but the chances for economic development and better lives for their children have been also immensely affected,” he said.

“It is our wish for the NPA rebels to heed the government’s call for peace. We believe that no properties should be unnecessarily destroyed, and no one should get hurt regardless of whose groups they belong to, for we are all Filipinos,” said Felix.

AFP records show the latest incident occurred during the last week of July in different parts of the country.

On July 26, NPAs seized a container van delivering eggs owned by Mega Via Corporations in Barangay Samalague, Leon, Iloilo and subsequently blew up the van using improvised explosives. Two days after, Margarito Renario, a barangay kagawad of Barangay. Aguada, Placer, Masbate was shot dead by suspected members of the NPA.

Three dump trucks owned by Goldrich Company were also burned by the suspected NPA members in Barangay Balao, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro on July 29. On the same day, one backhoe owned by SUNWEST, which was performing preventive maintenance on the circumferential road in Barangay Barihay, San Andres, Catanduanes was also torched.

In Iloilo, a health center in Barangay Bagacay, Igbaras was strafed by NPA members, wounding a civilian identified as Juanita Espinosa Sabijon also on July 26.

On July 31, five container vans of Dole-Stanfilco banana plantation were set ablaze by NPA members at Barangay Camanlangan, New Bataan, Compostela Valley.

Meanwhile, a brand new generator and two air conditioned buses of Victory Liner were likewise burned by 12 NPA members at the liner’s maintenance compound in Barangay Estrada, Capas, Tarlac.

Reports from the 3rd Infantry Division (3rd ID) also recorded four civilians killed by NPA members in separate incidents in Negros Occidental.

The killings of Sergio Villadar, Joel Resaga, and Leonardo Obtina in Escalante City; and Jelly Biahedor in Toboso were admitted by the local Communist rebels.

The AFP said it strongly condemns the attacks, especially the killing of civilians, and will assist law enforcement agencies to catch the perpetrators and make them accountable for these crimes according to our laws.

Military records show that in 2009, 86 civilian lives were killed, and P103 million worth of properties were destroyed.




NCRPO open to investigation on theft gang leader's death
By Non Alquitran and Rhodina Villanueva
The Philippine Star – www.philstar.com
Thursday, August 05, 2010

MANILA, Philippines – The National Capital Region Police Office expressed willingness yesterday to appear before any probe body tasked to investigate allegations that they summarily executed car theft gang leader Ivan Padilla.

“My men have strictly followed police rules of engagement and we are open to any investigation,” said Superintendent Leo Francisco, head of the NCRPO’s regional police intelligence and operations unit (RPIOU).

Francisco directed all RPIOU operatives involved in the five-minute running gunbattle with Padilla in Makati City on Monday to appear before any probe body once they are properly summoned. The RPIOU chief issued his reaction amid TV reports that relatives of Padilla are seeking the help of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate his death as they strongly suspect he “was summarily executed.”

Francisco stressed that it would be next to impossible to summarily execute Padilla as he was with a companion, a certain Mark Inducil, at the time of the gunbattle.

He said even Inducil verbally testified that Padilla opened fire at the RPIOU operatives who cornered them while on board a stolen vehicle along Gen. Luna St., in Makati City.

“Inducil’s statement will absolve us of the allegations that we summarily executed Padilla. We will also present other evidence like the autopsy report on his body,” he said. But reports showed that Padilla’s family insisted he was “executed” while being rushed to the hospital and Inducil already separated from him.

Francisco admitted that Padilla was still breathing when his operatives rushed him to the Ospital ng Makati City where attending doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Two other gang members Dale Alimagno, 22, and Glenn Castillo, 31, were arrested by RPIOU operatives while they were about to sell the Toyota Camry of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Roberto Romulo to a prospective buyer for P225,000 in Quezon City Thursday last week.

Aside from the vehicle of Romulo, police tagged Padilla’s gang as behind the carjacking of the Volvo of the father of actor Derek Ramsey and other car theft cases in Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces.

In related developments, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) yesterday said it will initiate an investigation on the death of suspected carjack leader Ivan Padilla after he engaged in a shootout with policemen in Makati City Monday morning.

CHR Commissioner Jose Manuel Mamauag said they were prompted to step in and probe the circumstances surrounding Padilla’s death after they received an e-mail sent by Padilla’s mother Malou asking for the commission’s help. “Sana pwede kaming lumapit sa CHR para ma-imbestigahan ng maayos ang pagkamatay ni Ivan. Marami pa akong mga tanong,” said Malou in the e-mail that was sent to the office of Mamauag by a TV network. Mamauag said Malou sought the help of a friend who got in touch with the TV network and the latter in turn, sent the message to the CHR.

Mamauag explained that the commission will have to engage first in documentation. “We will be requesting the PNP chief to help us provide the papers needed in the investigation like spot report, hospital records of Padilla and other pertinent documents. We will also be conducting an ocular inspection of the crime scene.”

He added they will request for a copy of the footage of the incident taken by a TV network so that they would be able to assess if violation of human rights were committed by the involved policemen or police officers.




Sigaw ng magulang: Ivan Padilla sinadyang patayin!
Ni Armida Rico
Abante – Tonite – www.abante-tonite.com
Huwebes, Agosto 5, 2010

Hindi dahil sa tama ng bala ng baril kundi posibleng nilagyan ng supot sa ulo o sinakal habang isinusugod sa Ospital ng Makati ang itinuturong lider ng carnapping syndicate na si Ivan Nieto Padilla na naging sanhi ng kanyang kamatayan.

Ito ang isiniwalat ng mga magulang ni Padilla nang lumantad sa isang programa sa telebis­yon upang ibunyag ang umano’y resulta ng autopsy sa bangkay ng kanilang anak na napaslang ng mga tauhan ng Regional Police Intelligence Ope­ration Unit-Anti-Carnapping Unit (RPIOU-ANCAR) ng National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) noong Lunes ng madaling-araw sa Makati City.

Ayon sa mga magulang ni Padilla, malakas pa at nakakapagsalita ang kanilang anak nang abutan ng reporter at crew ng ABS-CBN kaya’t posibleng malaki pa ang kanyang tsansang mabuhay kung naisugod sa pagamu­tan ng hindi ginagawan ng paraan upang tuluyan nang mamatay.

Posible umanong nilag­yan ng supot sa ulo o sinakal si Padilla habang isinusugod sa Ospital ng Makati ng mga pulis na naging sanhi ng kanyang kamatayan at hindi sa tama ng bala sa kanang bahagi ng kilay.

Pinabulaanan naman ni Sr. Inspector Ricardo Bachar Luciano Jr., hepe ng RPIOU-Investigation Section, ang bintang at pinanindigan na lumaban at nakipagbarilan sa kanila si Padilla matapos itong masukol habang sakay ng carnap ding Toyota Vios na may plakang ZAP 355.

Hindi, aniya, sinakal o sinuputan ang ulo ni Padilla at ang resulta na asphyxia ay hindi sanhi ng strangulation o pagkakasakal kundi “asphyxia by blunt force” o hindi nakahinga dahil sa matinding tama ng bala na tinamo sa ulo. Nakita rin umano ng mga tauhan ng Scene of Crime Operatives na may sugat sa baba si Padilla na maaaring naumpog ito sa isang matigas na bagay sa loob ng kotse nito.

Ipinaliwanag pa ng opisyal na halos sampung minuto niyang hinihikayat na sumuko si Padilla subalit lumaban pa rin ito. Katunayan, aniya, ang kasama ni Padilla na si Mark Inducil, 23, ang magpapatunay na nanlaban ang suspek sa halip na sumuko.
Ayon naman kay Supt. Maristelo Manalo, hepe ng Anti-Carnapping Unit ng NCRPO, malinaw na walang naganap na rubout sa ginawa nilang operas­yon dahil, aniya, makikita naman na ang kanyang sasakyan ay tadtad din ng tama ng bala ng baril nang makipagbarilan sa kanila si Padilla.

Sinabi pa rin ni Mana­lo na paninindigan din niya na shootout at hindi rubout ang ginawa nilang operasyon kaya’t handa din siyang humarap at sagutin ang mga akusas­yon ng mga magulang at kamag-anak ni Padilla.

Maging ang bagong hepe ng NCRPO na si Director Leocadio Santiago ay nagpahayag na handa rin niyang ipasiyasat ang insidente sakaling maghain ng reklamo ang mga magulang ni Padilla.