De Lima vows to review Morong 43 case

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said on Thursday that she will review the case of the 43 health workers arrested last February on accusations that they are communist rebels, to determine if there was indeed basis to file charges against them. De Lima, former head of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), said the review was to find out if there was indeed enough evidence to prosecute the health workers, collectively known as the “Morong 43," for illegal possession of firearms and explosives. “I will review, kasi siyempre (because, of course) I handled that in the CHR. I know the background and the issues there… so I will review the records. You know, while we are the prosecutors, we have to make sure na talagang may sapat na basehan ang pagpa-file ng (that there was indeed enough basis to file) charges," she said. She however added that no motion for reconsideration or petition for review has been filed regarding the case. De Lima likewise said that she will leave it to the courts to rule on the validity of the Morong 43’s detention and arrest, as well as their petition for habeas corpus. The 43 health workers were arrested by government security forces in a farm house in Morong town in Rizal province last February 6 on allegations that they are communist rebels conducting explosives training. (See: AFP: 43 nabbed in doc’s home are ‘rebel trainees’) Thirty-eight of the health workers — who were later given the moniker “Morong 43" by human rights groups and the media — are currently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City for charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. The other five have reportedly admitted being communist insurgents and have chosen to avail of the government's rebel returnee program while remaining at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal.—ACC/JV, GMANews.TV