‘Tortured’ Fil-Am activist's testimony ‘credible’ - CHR chief
KIMBERLY JANE TAN, GMANews.TV
07/23/2009 | 09:37 PM
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson Leila de Lima on Thursday said she found the testimony of alleged military abuse victim Melissa Roxas “credible."
De Lima made the statement during the CHR’s public hearing on the alleged abduction and torture of Roxas by the Army’s 7th Infantry Division last May in Tarlac province.
“The story in itself is credible, that is my personal opinion. I don’t know if the other commissioners would agree with me," De Lima said.
During the hearing, Roxas, a Filipino-American member of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), recalled how soldiers allegedly snatched her and her two companions in La Paz town last May 19.
“I confirmed that (they were military men) when I saw one person in fatigue (uniform). They addressed each other as sirs," she said.
She also described the place where she was brought, which is believed to be Fort Magsaysay, the 7th ID headquarters in Nueva Ecija province. She said the roads were bumpy, and that she could hear a firing range and planes taking off nearby.
In her affidavit issued last June, Roxas said she was abducted, interrogated and tortured by her abductors on suspicion that she was a communist rebel.
De Lima said an ocular inspection of Fort Magsaysay showed that there is an air strip near it, several firing ranges, a building under construction, and a number of quarters belonging to officers.
The military, for its part, said Roxas’ description of the area did not match the Army camp in Nueva Ecija.
“Walang nag ta-tally kahit isa sa mga sinabi niya. Wala naman talagang (The things she says do not tally, there really is no) evidence," said Lt. Col. Hermilo Barrios, who represented the 7th ID during the hearing.
He said Fort Magsaysay has only one detention cell and that all its gates are new.
“Hayaan na lang natin si Chairman De Lima mag-decide kung nagsasabi ng totoo (Let’s just let Chairman De Lima decide on who’s telling the truth)," Barrios said. - GMANews.TV
De Lima made the statement during the CHR’s public hearing on the alleged abduction and torture of Roxas by the Army’s 7th Infantry Division last May in Tarlac province.
“The story in itself is credible, that is my personal opinion. I don’t know if the other commissioners would agree with me," De Lima said.
During the hearing, Roxas, a Filipino-American member of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), recalled how soldiers allegedly snatched her and her two companions in La Paz town last May 19.
“I confirmed that (they were military men) when I saw one person in fatigue (uniform). They addressed each other as sirs," she said.
She also described the place where she was brought, which is believed to be Fort Magsaysay, the 7th ID headquarters in Nueva Ecija province. She said the roads were bumpy, and that she could hear a firing range and planes taking off nearby.
In her affidavit issued last June, Roxas said she was abducted, interrogated and tortured by her abductors on suspicion that she was a communist rebel.
De Lima said an ocular inspection of Fort Magsaysay showed that there is an air strip near it, several firing ranges, a building under construction, and a number of quarters belonging to officers.
The military, for its part, said Roxas’ description of the area did not match the Army camp in Nueva Ecija.
“Walang nag ta-tally kahit isa sa mga sinabi niya. Wala naman talagang (The things she says do not tally, there really is no) evidence," said Lt. Col. Hermilo Barrios, who represented the 7th ID during the hearing.
He said Fort Magsaysay has only one detention cell and that all its gates are new.
“Hayaan na lang natin si Chairman De Lima mag-decide kung nagsasabi ng totoo (Let’s just let Chairman De Lima decide on who’s telling the truth)," Barrios said. - GMANews.TV
