Benguet PNP arrests backpackers, not NPA members

	NORDIS WEEKLY February 19, 2006
Home \| To bottom	Previous \| Next
Benguet PNP arrests backpackers, not NPA members — HR group
*IP group, HR group slam PNP for backpackers' torture* BAGUIO CITY (Feb. 18) — The Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) today condemned the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the arrest and torture of 11 backpackers from February 14 to 16 in Buguias, Benguet. They called for the immediate release of the victims and the appropriate penalty to the PNP elements involved. The PNP claimed that the victims are New People’s Army (NPA) members responsible for the raid that took place in Mankayan town last week. “The PNP has proven again its disregard for human dignity, which is manifested in the various forms of physical and mental torture inflicted upon the victims, one of which is a woman,” CPA Secretary General Windel Bolinget claimed in an interview. The Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) identified the perpetrators to be elements of the 1604th PNP Provincial Mobile Group (PMG), 3rd Coy of the PNP Regional Mobile Group (PRMG), and elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Like the CPA, CHRA also condemned the dastardly manner by which the suspected rebels were handled by the police. “This seems to be the SOPs (standard operating procedures) of the PNP,” claimed Atty. Randy Kinaud, CHRA Secretary-General. He adds that the extraction of information through the employment of force and coercion is violating the rights of the backpackers. “We condemn the brutality inflicted upon innocent civilians on mere suspicion that they are NPA members,” Kinaud added. “Is this the way we treat visitors who come all the way from far municipalities to appreciate the beauty and wonders of the Cordillera?” he asked further. The victims are Rundren Berloize (24), Anderson Alonzo (18), Aldoz Mañoza (18), Ron Pandino (20), Ray Lester Mendoza (16), Jethro Villagracia (21), Neil Russel Balajadia (25), Darwin Alazar (21), Arvie Nuñez (21), Jefferson dela Rosa (20), and Frencess Ann Bernal (15). They come from different parts of the country, as far as Pangasinan, Laguna, Quezon and Davao provinces and intended to backpack towards Sagada, Mt. Province. Reports from the CHRA claim that the victims were punched, slapped and kicked in various parts of the body, blindfolded and tied, made to kneel blindfolded under the heat of the sun, and electrocuted. Some were dumped in a hole that was later filled with soil. Other victims’ genitals were whacked with wood, among others. Bolinget said that Benguet Provincial Police Office Director Senior Supt. Villamor Bumanglag is directly responsible for the acts committed against the 11 victims, the youngest aged 15 years old. “The PNP has denied due process to the victims. Due process should always be accorded, even if these are criminals or even NPAs, because nobody is guilty of a crime until proven so,” he stressed, adding that the incident only indicates that the PNP is after an on-the-spot promotion. Bolinget added that the same PNP group(s) committed the human rights violations against the Lepanto mineworkers during the strike last year from June 2 to September 10. “The PNP is mandated to serve and protect the Filipino people but has proven again otherwise to this occasion,” he said. He also said that justice must be immediately served to these victims and that government agencies, such as the Commission on Human Rights, must intervene and assist the 11 victims, and send them home to their provinces. “What the PNP did desecrates the Cordillera indigenous peoples’ culture and tradition of warm welcome to guests and visitors, who deserve respect,” he ended. CHRA demands from PNP Director Arturo Lomibao to investigate and punish the PNP officers responsible for the arrest and torture. PNP to promote officers On the other hand, Lomibao claimed that the backpackers were tipped by CAFGU-Cabiten (Mankayan) as among the raiders. In fact, he claimed that the arresting officers might be promoted because of the arrest. The PNP Cordillera Office and the Benguet Office had been in a media conference claiming that the 11 were member of the NPA. The Benguet PNP and PNP Cordillera offices recently won as the best provincial and regional PNP offices respectively, but human rights groups claim that the PNP had been involved in human rights violations, including the carnage of NPA guerillas in Buguias in August last year. # ATBengwayan and Arthur Allad-iw for NORDIS Post your comments, reactions to this article
Home \| Back to top	Previous \| Next

	NORDIS WEEKLY February 19, 2006
Home \| To bottom	Previous \| Next
Benguet PNP arrests backpackers, not NPA members — HR group
*IP group, HR group slam PNP for backpackers' torture* BAGUIO CITY (Feb. 18) — The Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) today condemned the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the arrest and torture of 11 backpackers from February 14 to 16 in Buguias, Benguet. They called for the immediate release of the victims and the appropriate penalty to the PNP elements involved. The PNP claimed that the victims are New People’s Army (NPA) members responsible for the raid that took place in Mankayan town last week. “The PNP has proven again its disregard for human dignity, which is manifested in the various forms of physical and mental torture inflicted upon the victims, one of which is a woman,” CPA Secretary General Windel Bolinget claimed in an interview. The Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) identified the perpetrators to be elements of the 1604th PNP Provincial Mobile Group (PMG), 3rd Coy of the PNP Regional Mobile Group (PRMG), and elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Like the CPA, CHRA also condemned the dastardly manner by which the suspected rebels were handled by the police. “This seems to be the SOPs (standard operating procedures) of the PNP,” claimed Atty. Randy Kinaud, CHRA Secretary-General. He adds that the extraction of information through the employment of force and coercion is violating the rights of the backpackers. “We condemn the brutality inflicted upon innocent civilians on mere suspicion that they are NPA members,” Kinaud added. “Is this the way we treat visitors who come all the way from far municipalities to appreciate the beauty and wonders of the Cordillera?” he asked further. The victims are Rundren Berloize (24), Anderson Alonzo (18), Aldoz Mañoza (18), Ron Pandino (20), Ray Lester Mendoza (16), Jethro Villagracia (21), Neil Russel Balajadia (25), Darwin Alazar (21), Arvie Nuñez (21), Jefferson dela Rosa (20), and Frencess Ann Bernal (15). They come from different parts of the country, as far as Pangasinan, Laguna, Quezon and Davao provinces and intended to backpack towards Sagada, Mt. Province. Reports from the CHRA claim that the victims were punched, slapped and kicked in various parts of the body, blindfolded and tied, made to kneel blindfolded under the heat of the sun, and electrocuted. Some were dumped in a hole that was later filled with soil. Other victims’ genitals were whacked with wood, among others. Bolinget said that Benguet Provincial Police Office Director Senior Supt. Villamor Bumanglag is directly responsible for the acts committed against the 11 victims, the youngest aged 15 years old. “The PNP has denied due process to the victims. Due process should always be accorded, even if these are criminals or even NPAs, because nobody is guilty of a crime until proven so,” he stressed, adding that the incident only indicates that the PNP is after an on-the-spot promotion. Bolinget added that the same PNP group(s) committed the human rights violations against the Lepanto mineworkers during the strike last year from June 2 to September 10. “The PNP is mandated to serve and protect the Filipino people but has proven again otherwise to this occasion,” he said. He also said that justice must be immediately served to these victims and that government agencies, such as the Commission on Human Rights, must intervene and assist the 11 victims, and send them home to their provinces. “What the PNP did desecrates the Cordillera indigenous peoples’ culture and tradition of warm welcome to guests and visitors, who deserve respect,” he ended. CHRA demands from PNP Director Arturo Lomibao to investigate and punish the PNP officers responsible for the arrest and torture. PNP to promote officers On the other hand, Lomibao claimed that the backpackers were tipped by CAFGU-Cabiten (Mankayan) as among the raiders. In fact, he claimed that the arresting officers might be promoted because of the arrest. The PNP Cordillera Office and the Benguet Office had been in a media conference claiming that the 11 were member of the NPA. The Benguet PNP and PNP Cordillera offices recently won as the best provincial and regional PNP offices respectively, but human rights groups claim that the PNP had been involved in human rights violations, including the carnage of NPA guerillas in Buguias in August last year. # ATBengwayan and Arthur Allad-iw for NORDIS Post your comments, reactions to this article
Home \| Back to top	Previous \| Next