At around 6:15 in the evening on March 1, 2011, Rowena Quilop arrived at the New Bacolod-Silay Airport from Cebu City. She has just returned from a training-workshop on the use of Quickbooks in Baklayan, Province of Bohol. She was met at the airport by her husband and two children, aged 7 and 3 years old, who came to pick her up.
At around 6:15 in the evening on March 1, 2011, Rowena Quilop arrived at the New Bacolod-Silay Airport from Cebu City. She has just returned from a training-workshop on the use of Quickbooks in Baklayan, Province of Bohol. She was met at the airport by her husband and two children, aged 7 and 3 years old, who came to pick her up.
When the family reached the parking lot of the airport, some armed individuals in plainclothes were waiting. A male and a female approached Rowena and, without introducing themselves, presented a warrant of arrest for arson. The warrant was for her alleged involvement with members of the New People’s Army in the March 2008 burning of a trans-loading station owned by Victorias Milling Company in Toboso, Negros Occidental.
Rowena denied having knowledge of the incident but did not resist arrest as she is with her children. She was made to board a PNP car and was brought to Silay Police Station in Silay City. Her belongings were also taken from her including one laptop computer, two (2) USB flashdrives and cash amounting to five thousand and fifty pesos (PhP5,050.00). Her belongings were returned to her later at the police station, except for the cash. Her husband stayed with her at the police station where she was incarcerated overnight.
Karapatan-Negros, together with legal counsel, arrived at the police station around 8:00 p.m. and accompanied Rowena and her husband, to ensure that she will not be brought to any military camps for interrogation. Karapatan staff members also found out that Rowena’s name was now added to the amended charges filed against five (5) other political prisoners.
The following morning, March 2, Rowena was transported to the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office in Bacolod City where she was presented to PNP Provincial Director Allan Guisan. She was later then brought to San Carlos City and brought to the Regional Trial Court Branch 59 where the charges were filed.
Rowena Quilop is currently detained in Bacolod City Provincial Jail.