She bore him for nine months in her womb. But Casimira Roluna, 78 years old, a resident of Brgy. Cabungaan, Baybay, Leyte, has not seen her son for nine months now. Her only proof of life was the news she heard over the radio last March 7, 2006 that her son, Glecerio Roluna, 48, is one of the witnesses being prepared by the military for the multiple murder case filed against Bayan Muna Party (People First) Representative Satur Ocampo, Jose Ma. Sison, and several others.
By Karen Pepellero
Bulatlat
CEBU CITY- She bore him for nine months in her womb. But Casimira Roluna, 78 years old, a resident of Brgy. Cabungaan, Baybay, Leyte, has not seen her son for nine months now.
Her only proof of life, Casimira said in an interview with Bulatlat, was the news she heard over the radio last March 7, 2006. Casimira said that according to the news report, her son Glecerio Roluna is one of the witnesses being prepared by the military for the multiple murder case filed against Bayan Muna Party (People First) Representative Satur Ocampo, Jose Ma. Sison, and several others.
Casimira Roluna, mother of missing peasant Glecerio Roluna who was surfaced as a witness in the murder charge against Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo
The multiple murder case is in relation to the alleged mass grave found in Inopacan, Southern Leyte. Ocampo and Sison, allegedly ordered the killings in 1985 as part of an alleged purge within the ranks of the New Peoples Army in the 1980s.
Enforced disappearance
Records from Karapatan-Central Visayas revealed that on June 4, 2006, Glecerio Roluna, together with two others, was physically assaulted and illegally arrested by seven armed men on suspicion that they were NPA guerillas. The armed men were believed to be soldiers from the 43rd IB of the Philippine Army based in Brgy. Hibod-hibod, Sogod, Southern Leyte.
Roluna, Marcelo Narisma Jr., College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) Southwest Leyte coordinator and Junrie Escabal, a high school teacher and finance officer of ANAKBAYAN-Southern Leyte, were forcibly taken at gunpoint after they were assaulted in the house of Lourdes Narisma, Marcelos mother. While being brought to Sogod in a truck, the victims were interrogated about their involvement with the NPA, threatened to be shot, and coerced into admitting that Bayan Muna and the NPA are the same organization.
After they reached the remote area of Brgy. Calayugan, Tomas Oppus, So. Leyte, the perpetrators ordered Narisma, Jr. and Escabal to get off and run. After the two alighted, the truck drove away with Roluna still inside.
The military admitted to having Roluna in their custody only after two weeks when KARAPATAN filed a habeas corpus case against the military before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Sogod, So. Leyte.
Only a representative of the 43rd IB, PA appeared before the RTC and admitted that they are detaining Roluna and that a multiple murder case is being filed against him in Baybay, So. Leyte. Roluna was not presented in court.
The judge then ordered that the mother, Casimira Roluna and their lawyer, Alfonso Cinco IV, be permitted to visit him in the military camp.
The soldiers did not allow Cinco to speak with his client. The mother was able to enter but was afraid to ask her son about his situation because soldiers were present in the room.
Giingnan ra ko sa akong anak nga bisitahon nako siya kada bulan. Pero, niingon ko nga kinahanglan adto siya sa Baybay i-tanggong kay didto man iyang kaso. Ug kung diri siya sa Sogod, wa man koy kwarta para ika-plite, the mother narrated. (My son just told me to visit him every month. But, I told him that he should be in Baybay because thats where they filed the murder case. Besides, if he is detained here in Sogod, I wont be able to visit him because I dont have the money to pay for the fare.)
That was the last time she saw her son.
Extrajudicial Killings
