CHR summons AFP, PNP officers involved in ‘Morong 43’ arrest

The Commission of Human Rights (CHR) has summoned four military and police officials to answer allegations of human rights violations in connection with the arrest of 43 health workers in Rizal last month on suspicion of being New People’s Army (NPA) rebels. In an order dated February 26 but released on Tuesday, the commission ordered police and military officers, as well as officials of the Department of Justice, to be present in a hearing scheduled on March 18 to respond to findings of the CHR on "several forms of human rights violations" allegedly committed on the group of health workers dubbed as the "Morong 43." Ordered to appear at the scheduled hearing were: Maj. Gen. Jorge Segovia of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, Col. Aurelio Baladad of the 202nd Infantry Brigade, Lt. Col. Jaime Abawag of the 16th Infantry Battalion, P/Supt. Marion Bolonglong of the Rizal Provincial Police, and State Prosecutor II Romeo Senson. The CHR has also directed the military and the police to present before the commission all 43 health workers currently detained at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal "to answer clarificatory questions" on the incident. AFP unlikely to present workers This early, however, it seems that the detained workers would not be presented before the CHR. Military information chief Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner said that while the officials summoned would "cooperate" with the CHR, the transport of the 43 detainees could pose security concerns. Brawner said it may be better if the CHR would go to Camp Capinpin instead and interview the suspects. "If we look at it on the practical and security side, its better if the Commission on Human Rights visits the 43 (at Camp Capinpin)." The “Morong 43" were arrested last February 6 by a combined Army-police raiding force in a retired doctor’s rest house in Rizal on suspicions of being communist rebels allegedly conducting a training session for explosives in the area. Violated human rights? The CHR, after conducting visits and interviews with the "Morong 43," has said that the military and the police may have violated certain human rights of the health workers and subjected them to mental torture after their arrest. [See: CHR team visits ‘Morong 43,’ sees no physical torture signs] The commission has likewise ordered the presence of the owner of the rest house, Dr. Melecia Velmonte and her son, Jose Manuel, in the hearing on Thursday. In the same order, the CHR also directed top officials of the police and the military, including Philippine National Police chief Director Gen. Jesus Verzosa and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Victor Ibrado, to explain within 10 days the continued detention of the "Morong 43" in Camp Capinpin. The CHR likewise ordered other respondents, including President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales and outgoing Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, to a complaint filed by the counsel of the “Morong 43" last week to submit their comments within 10 days. - Andreo Calonzo/RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV