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Probing the Military’s Hand

Published: December 23, 2006   |     |     |   Subscribe: RSS or Email    

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The dead says a lot

In another case, Pastor Isaias Sta. Rosa was abducted and then murdered in Barangay Malobago, Daraga, Albay by armed men wearing bonnets on Aug. 3, 2006. His body was recovered at a nearby creek along with a dead soldier. Witnesses said the soldier was part of the group that beat up and abducted Pastor Sta. Rosa.

The dead soldier was identified as Pfc. Lordger Pastrana. He had a Philippine Army ID valid until Dec. 9, 2008, indicating he was in active service when killed. He also had a “mission order”, valid July 11-September 2006 signed by Maj. Ernest Marc Rosal and issued by the 9th Military Intelligence Battalion of the 9th ID based at Camp Weene Martillana, Pili, Camarines Sur.

A news item from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) said that the 9th ID has been under the command of Maj. Gen. Ricardo Nobleza since December 2004.

Not just one witness

Leuterio is not the only one who could confirm that Sherlyn Cadapan was taken by military men.

Fourteen-year old Wilfredo Ramos also witnessed the abduction of two University of the Philippines (UP) students, along with a local farmer, on June 26, 2006 in Barangay San Miguel, Hagonoy, Bulacan. He testified in court when the parents of students Sherlyn Cadapan, 29, who was two months pregnant, and Karen Empeño, 23, filed a habeas corpus petition before the Supreme Court (SC) ordering the military to surface the two and Manuel Merino, 56. All were volunteers of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Bulacan (Peasant Alliance in Bulacan).

Wilfredo and his father William were also seized by 15 armed men in the same incident. Father and son testified before the SC that the abductors of Merino and the two UP scholars rode in a stainless steel jeep with plate number RTF 597 that sped toward the direction of Barangay Iba in Hagonoy, Bulacan around 2 a.m., June 26. The same vehicle was seen parked inside the 56th IB headquarters in Iba the following day by members of the human rights group Alyansa ng mga Mamamayan para sa Pantaong Karapatan-Bulacan (People’s Alliance for Human Rights-Bulacan).

In a related incident, Alberto Ramirez was illegally arrested by armed men on June 28. Ramirez, in his affidavit, said he identified Merino as his abductors’ guide. The same stainless steel jeep was used by the soldiers when he was brought to the military detachment in Barangay Mercado, also in Hagonoy. Under interrogation, he was asked if he knew Cadapan and Empeño.

Ramirez was later released but was unable to go home for fear of his life.