Reference:

Jigs Clamor, Deputy Secretary General, Cellphone No.: +639228149751/
+639189790580


PRESS RELEASE
November 19, 2007

KARAPATAN eye result of hearing of Writ of Amparo on Robiños case

Human Rights groups led by KARAPATAN and DESAPARECIDOS showed their
support to Lolita Robiños and Leny Robiños mother and sister of
enforced disappearance victim Romulos "Mulong" Robiños, and
petitioners of the Writ of Amparo with prayers for an order of
inspection of place, production of documents, temporary protection
order during a writ of amparo hearing today at the Court of Appeals.

"We join the Robiños family in their hope and efforts of finding
Mulong," said Jigs Clamor, KARAPATAN Deputy Secretary General.

On November 17, 2006, Mulong was abducted at 12:30 a.m. from their
house in Angeles City, Pampanga.  Elements from the 69th Infantry
Battalion raided their house to look for his sister Leny. But  after
discovering that she was not around, the soldiers instead abducted
Mulong and gave the condition that they will only release him if the
family produced Leny. The soldiers also took away Leny's mobile phone.

The Robiños family filed the writ on November 7 at the Supreme Court
which raffled it to the Court of Appeals. Prior to this, the family
also filed a Petiton for the writ of habeas corpus before the local
courts of Pampanga but was dismissed in the middle of this year.

"The successful surfacing of Rowil Muñasque and Luicito Bustamante
after the filing of the writ of amparo before the local courts in
Mindanao heartens other victims' families, and we view these wth
optimism," Clamor said. "Mrs. Arroyo's government can longer deny that
its regular state security forces were behind the abduction of the two
victims," he stated.

"However, it remains a challenge to the high court to also help the
other victims and their kin who have also filed amparo petitions."

KARAPATAN urged the court to heed the family's call for justice and
finally have the perpetrators release Mulong.  Under the writ of
amparo, the military cannot simply deny that they have custody of the
victims, as the court can issue inspection of military camps and other
detention areas.

The Respondents to the Petition of the Writ of Amparo are President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Gen.Esperon Brig. Gen Avelino Razon, Lt. Col.
Edison Caga, Lt. Eric Bulosan, 69th Infantry Battalion of the 7th
Division of the Philippine Army and the 7th  Division of the
Philippine Army,  Sr. Supt. George Gaddi, Chief of Police of Angeles
City, Pampanga and the Head of the Police Precinct of Barangay Tabon,
Angeles City.

Clamor added that the protection order and release of the victims
should lead to filing criminal and administrative charges against the
perpetrators.   ###

Delete Reply Forward Spam Move...
Previous | Next | Back to Messages