Home | To bottom

Punks condemn PNP for arrest, torture of 11 backpackers in Buguias

BAGUIO CITY (Feb. 24) — Punk rockers condemned the Philippine National Police (PNP) for arresting and torturing 11 backpackers on mere suspicion that they are members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

The group during their press conference on February 24 stressed that the said 11 backpackers are punk rockers and not NPA guerillas. Ben (name withheld as requested), a fellow punk of the arrested backpackers said that they are not affiliated to any group critical to the government. They are just ordinary young punk rockers who wanted to join the Panagbenga festivities and see the beauty of the Cordilleras.

“Gitara ang hawak nila hindi baril. Sa katunayan noong nakatakas si Rundren (one of the arrested), sa awtoridad siya tumakbo para humingi ng tulong, kung talagang NPA siya sa tingin ninyo lalapit ba siya sa awtoridad (National Bureau of Investigation) para humingi ng tulong?” (In fact, when Rundren was able to escape he sought the help of the NBI. If he really is an NPA, do you think he would ask the help of the NBI?) he stressed.

The said punk rockers latter joined the march-rally led by militant groups here as part of the national commemoration of EDSA I. During a short program held after the said rally, Ben reiterated that they do not belong to any of the groups calling for the ouster of GMA and that they just asked the organizers of the rally to be able to express their disgust to the PNP.

According to earlier Nordis reports, elements of the 1064th Provincial Mobile Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP) captured the 11 backpackers last February 14 along Halsema Highway in Buguias, Benguet while on the way to Sagada, Mountain Province.

Jeferson “Jepox” Dela Rosa, one of the backpackers, shared in an interview that a certain Edmar from Gerona invited them to a gig last February 11. He said Edmar visited his punk friends in Davao and on his way back, two of his punk rocker friends from Davao decided to come with him to attend the said gig. When they arrived in Manila, they took the opportunity to invite other punk rockers there.

According to him, they decided to come to Baguio to join the Panagbenga festivities. He said that when they arrived they learned that they were a week early for the grand parade and they decided to hitchhike to another tourist destination, Sagada, Mt. Province. In the morning of February 14, they hitched a ride from Baguio going to Sagada unfortunately they were arrested in Buguias.

Police brutality

According to Neil Russel Balajadia, the torture started right after the PNP elements stopped their ride.

“Pinababa po kami at pinadapa, tapos tinalian po ang mga kamay namin ng tela habang nakadapa sa ilalim ng araw. Tinadyakan din po yung mga ayaw dumapa,” (They ordered us to get out of the truck and forcibly tied our arms while laying down on the ground under the sun. They also kicked those who did not want to drop to the ground) he disclosed.

He added that the PNP inflicted them mental and physical torture. He said they were interrogated, electrocuted while their heads were covered with plastic bags and were hit in different parts of their body among others during their detention at the PNP camp in Bugias.

Arvie Molbog revealed during an interview that they admitted to be members of the NPA just to stop the tortures. He said they had no choice but to tell lies.

“Hindi kami mga NPA, mga punkista kami. Dahil sa sobrang sakit kaya kami umamin,” (We are not NPA members, we are punk rockers. We admitted their accusations because we were in so much pain), he cried.

Legal actions

Atty. Pablito Sanidad, counsel of the 11 backpackers told the media during the same press conference that there are many cases that could be filed against the PNP arresting officers given the extent of human rights violations and torture they inflicted to the victims. He added that they have all the medical certificates to prove that the 11 backpackers were tortured.

Sanidad also mentioned that they want the immediate release of the victims but the judicial process is very long. He added that they filed a motion to move the case from Bugias to La Trinidad.

“Food not bombs”

According to Jethro Villa Garcia, 21 year-old from Davao City, they are not just punk rockers but concerned citizens too. They are promoting a “Food not bombs” campaign. They regularly give food to street children using funds they collect from their gigs.

“Bilang punk at banda, kailangan naming magperform para may maibigay din kami dun sa tinatawag naming Food not bombs, tumutulong kami para magpakain ng street children,” (As a punk and as a band, we perform to be able to contribute to our “Food not bombs” campaign. We help in feeding street children), he said.

He added that they do not want violence. He even said that some of them are vegetarians. He said that vegetarians do not hurt others, even insects.

The punks’ aliases

Unlike the NPA’s who use aliases to hide their identity, the group stressed that punk rockers use aliases because it has become a tradition. The group added that in the history of punk music, the premier bands of this genre used aliases as their stage name and definitely not for any other reasons and it became part of the punk traditions.

The roots of punk rock

After the birth of rock and roll music in 1955, the Beatles was the first band who “revolutionized” this genre. When “rock” music lost its fun due to long vocal solo, long guitar solo, and long drums solo in the early 1970’s, it was “revived” by the Ramones, Sex Pistols and The Clash. This was the birth of punk music.

Meanwhile, the PNP maintains that the 11 backpackers are genuine NPA guerillas saying that they have witnesses to prove their claims. # Joel Capulong and Kim Quitasol with reports from Katherine del Rosario/UP Intern for NORDIS

Post your comments, reactions to this article

Home | Back to top