PressconofDesparecidos Feb 7-2007



7 February 2007 Reference: Mary Ghay Portajada, Desaparecidos Spokesperson Mobile No. 09058234907 Telefax 4342837 Gloria Arroyo is 100% responsible for disappearances & rights violations! – Desaparecidos kin Witnesses and relatives of victims of enforced disappearances today came out to accuse Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of being responsible for the abductions because of her national policy Oplan Bantay Laya. “Mrs. Arroyo, please quit your lies. We don’t have any need of your farcical investigations. YOU, the military and police are 100 % responsible for the more than 200 abductions and disappearances in your six years in power,” said Ghay Portajada, spokesperson of the Families of Desaparecidos for Justice (DESAPARECIDOS). At a press conference today in Quezon City, members of DESAPARECIDOS presented two witnesses who were also victims of human rights violations. The refusal of the Arroyo government to go after perpetrators had compelled them to tell the public of what they witnessed and underwent. Victim Oscar Leuterio, 48, a former security guard of Iron Ore mining company in Doña Remedios Trinidad in Bulacan was abducted with three others on 17 April 2006 by soldiers and CAFGU who tortured and held him incomunicado for five months. He was first brought to Camp Tecson in Bulacan but was eventually transferred to the 7^th Infantry Division headquarters in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija where he witnessed how other abducted victims were tortured. He also talked to then 7^th ID chief Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, Jr., who told him he would be allowed to live if he cooperated. Leuterio had filed criminal and civil charges against Palparan, now 7^th ID commander Maj. Gen. Juanito Gomez, Lt. Noel Clement of the 703^rd Infantry Brigade, 2^nd Lt. Ferdinand Basas and several militiamen. Lolita Robiños, 53, was manhandled when soldiers barged into her home and forcibly took away her son Romulos on 17 November 2006 in Angeles City, Pampanga. They had sought the help of the GRP-nominated section to the Joint Secretariat of the Joint Monitoring Committee and the Commission on Human Rights and filed a petition of habeas corpus case at the Supreme Court that delegated it to the Angeles City Regional Trial Court. “We laud Mr. Leuterio and Mrs. Robiños for coming forward to tell the nation of the dastardly acts being committed by government forces against the citizenry. We encourage other victims and witnesses to come forward; for us to organize and unite so we’ll be much stronger in fighting the injustice of this regime,” said Desaparecidos spokesperson Ghay Portajada. Linda Cadapan, mother of missing UP student Sherlyn, lamented the common experience of families who sought help from government agencies - from filing police blotters to writing letters to Arroyo. “Our cries for help in our search had been in vain, and it is because this government is only concerned with suppressing its critics and covering up its violations,” she said. Atty. Rex Fernandez, counsel for the Cadapan-Empeño, Leuterio, and Robiños cases, bewailed that the judicial system under Arroyo has denied justice to the victims, and engenders the atmosphere of fear and impunity. “The legal paradigm is the concealment of the criminals and the display of crime to instill fear and submission amongst us,” he said. Desaparecidos said an independent, investigative body with the representatives of international human rights groups should be formed and should be allowed to search major military camps, detachments and safehouses, like Fort Magsaysay where desaparecidos are being detained. This February, the group will be remembering some desaparecidos on their respective birthdays: · February 7, 30^th birthday of Gabriel Calubad, who was abducted with his father on June 17, 2006. · February 5, 54^th birthday of Federico Intise, abducted with his wife Nelly on Oct. 25, 2006 in Alabel, Sarangani province · February 16, birthday of Armando Portajada, Coca Cola Union president abducted and disappeared on July 31, 1987 in Makati · February 17, 30^th birthday of Sherlyn Cadapan, abducted with Karen Empeño on June 26, 2006 in Hagonoy, Bulacan. And those who were abducted and disappeared on this month: · February 1, 2006 - Robin Solano, Ricardo Valmocina Jr., abducted and disappeared in Pinaod, San Ildefonso Bulacan · February 3, 2006, Ernesto Capili abducted and disappeared in Gerona, Tarlac · February 9, 2002 - Honorio Ayroso and Johnny Orcino were abducted and disappeared in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija ; Josephine dela Cruz was abducted in Tayamaan, Mamburao, Oriental Mindoro · February 11, 2005, Esteban Pastor abducted and disappeared in San Luis, Aurora; and Emelio Ocenar in Pinabacdao, Samar · February 14, 2006, Raymond and Reynaldo Manalo abducted and disappeared in Bohol na Mangga, San Ildefonso, Bulacan · February 18, 2005 –brothers Sergio and Roger Viray abducted and disappeared in Masantol, Pampanga; and Rogelio Ladisa in Paranas, Samar · February 21, 2004 –Rolando Fortaliza and Jacqueline Paguntalan abducted and disappeared in Baybay, Leyte ### Download statement in Word format











		Atty. Rex Fernandez, counsel for the Cadapan-Empeño, Leuterio, and Robiños cases, bewailed that the judicial system under Arroyo has denied justice to the victims, and engenders the atmosphere of fear and impunity. “The legal paradigm is the concealment of the criminals and the display of crime to instill fear and submission amongst us,” he said.









	A brithday cake for the disappeared who would have been celebrating their birthdays in the month of February. The day of the press con is the birthday of Beth Calubad's son Gabriel whose daughter, May, later helped blow out the lighted birthday candles. Linda Cadapan, center, is the mother of abducted Sherlyn, whose birthday is on the 17th.

Dee Ayroso, wife of Honorio, who was abducted with Johnny Orcino on Feb. 9, 2002 in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija.

On the Melo Commission Report ► Anakpawis statement: Solon calls for vigilance against possible whitewash of Melo Commission's findings on extra-judicial killings ; says chain of command ends with Pres. Gloria Arroyo, not with Jovito Palparan ► Anakpawis statement: GMA going to use Melo Commission report as proof that she acted on extra-judicial killings; Palparan, the military being absolved of responsibility and criminal liability for deaths ► Armando Doronila: The Melo Farce ► Cordillera Human Rights Alliance: Prosecute the real enemies of the people ► Cordillera People's Alliance: GMA and Palparan should both pay for their crimes against humanity! ► Killings are part of state policy, contrary to Melo Commission findings—CPP ► HUSTISYA: New probe should be independent of Arroyo's commissioned panel ► 'Melo did not get to the bottom of killings' - KARAPATAN ► BAYAN MUNA hits Camp Aguinaldo with lightning rally; calls for a stop to the killings ► “Palparan should pay for his crimes!”-KMP Gloria now using him as a scapegoat for the killings ► Iinquirer: Left to cooperate only with ‘independent probe’ into slays ► Militants want Palparan charged ► Military pressured to dismantle 'death squads' ► Rights group want brains, perpetrators of killings punished ► RP must act on Melo report, says Magsaysay laureate ► Bayan Muna dissatisfied over Melo Panel findings ► Military chief: Soldiers involved in extrajudicial killings ► Militant solons urge full disclosure of Melo panel report ► As calls for public disclosure of Melo Report moun, Gloria forms new body to probe AFP involvement	On the UN Rapporteur visit to the Philippines ► Rights and victims' organization express hope as UN Rapporteur on arbitray executions visits the Philippines ► UN Press Release: On new UN Treaty outlawing enforced disappearances ► UN Rep Says Killings Hurting Arroyo’s Credibility Abroad *On the passage of the Anti-Terror Bill* ► Congress: A Hall of Injustice - Bulatlat article ► Senate Approved Anti-Terror Bill Not Watered Down - Bulatlat artcile ► Anti-Terrorism Bill to Keep Cordi Rights Advocates Busy - Bulatlat ► CODAL: Pres. Arroyo Tramples on the Bill of Rights while the Opposition watches in the sideline ► KARAPATAN: Anti-terrrorism bill will give rise to more human rights violations ► ATB: GMA's added ammo vs the people -- GABRIELA ► Suara Bangsa Moro: Anti-Terror Law will undermine efforts for justice and peace in Mindanao Others: ► National Security adviser Gonzales is a patent liar and puerile intriguer - NDFP ► Inquirer: Man says he saw missing UP students in military camp ► 2 Misamis Oriental men abducted ► Justice for Tatay Daki!-KMP


At a press conference in Quezon City, members of DESAPARECIDOS presented two witnesses who were also victims of human rights violations. The refusal of the Arroyo government to go after perpetrators had compelled them to tell the public of what they witnessed and underwent.

Oscar Leuterio, 48, a former security guard of Iron Ore mining company in Doña Remedios Trinidad in Bulacan was abducted with three others on 17 April 2006 by soldiers and CAFGU who tortured and held him incomunicado for five months. Manila Times Feb. 12: Kin, colleagues brave risks to join UN probe into killings	Linda Cadapan, mother of abducted UP student Sherlyn, and Elizabeth Calubad, wife of abducted husband Rogelio and son Gabriel. The abducted Sherlyn and Gabriel are celebrating their birthdays this February.

Father of abduced UP student Karen Empeño reiterates the demand of the human rights group Desaparecidos that an independent, investigative body with the representatives of international human rights groups be formed and be allowed to search major military camps, detachments and safehouses, like Fort Magsaysay where desaparecidos are being detained.	Lolita Robiños, 53, was manhandled when soldiers barged into her home and forcibly took away her son Romulos on 17 November 2006 in Angeles City, Pampanga. They had sought the help of the GRP-nominated section to the Joint Secretariat of the Joint Monitoring Committee and the Commission on Human Rights and filed a petition of habeas corpus case at the Supreme Court that delegated it to the Angeles City Regional Trial Court.