Families hope writ of amparo will lead to surfacing
Prudencio Calubid et al
Today, the
families of missing National Democratic Front consultant and his companions
filed with the Regional Trial Court Branch 51 a petition for their release and
other relief. With this, the families rekindle hopes to still find NDF
consultant Prudencio Calubid and wife Celina Palma, their niece Gloria Soco and
NDFP staff Ariel Beloy, who have all been missing for 19 months.
"The recent surfacing of abduction victims by the military renewed our hopes
that we will still find them," said Mary Guy Portajada, spokesperson of
the Families of the Desaparecidos for Justice or Desaparecidos.
Families hope writ of amparo will lead to surfacing
Prudencio Calubid et al
Today, the
families of missing National Democratic Front consultant and his companions
filed with the Regional Trial Court Branch 51 a petition for their release and
other relief. With this, the families rekindle hopes to still find NDF
consultant Prudencio Calubid and wife Celina Palma, their niece Gloria Soco and
NDFP staff Ariel Beloy, who have all been missing for 19 months.
"The recent surfacing of abduction victims by the military renewed our hopes
that we will still find them," said Mary Guy Portajada, spokesperson of
the Families of the Desaparecidos for Justice or Desaparecidos.
The petitioner, Eugenio Soco Jr., son of Gloria Soco, was joined by other
families of the missing (desaparecidos). The petition asks for the consolidation
of the habeas corpus petition with that of the petition for the writ of amparo
since this case involves the disappearance or possible extrajudicial or summary killing of the victims.
Specifically, the writ of amparo is sought for the immediate release of the
victims if still alive; or if dead, for the respondents to pinpoint the places
where their remains were placed or buried; to inspect places of detention of
several camps; to produce data and/or information that the respondent military units may have on the victims and
reparation to their relatives.
In July 2006, the Calubid and
families petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus with the Supreme Court, but
this was dismissed by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51 on October 17,
2007. In late 2007, the same Court approved the motion for reconsideration for
the habeas petition.
On June 26, 2006, the four victims were on board an A-2000 Mazda van and
driving along the Maharlika highway in Sipocot, Camarines Sur when they were
blocked by uniformed soldiers on board a red Tamaraw FX and four Toyota Revos.
Also abducted along with the four was Antonio Lacno, who was able to escape and
had given an account of how they were blindfolded and handcuffed, brought to
several places where they were interrogated and tortured.
When they were
brought outside of one of these places on June 28, Lacno sensed that they were going to be killed and
he was able to escape.
Calubid’s niece Gloria, was to visit her ailing father in
and had only hitched a ride with the group.
Calubid had been charged with rebellion at least twice by the Department of
Justice, all in 2006. He was among those charged with rebellion along with the
Batasan 6, and was yet again charged along with the rebel soldiers.
"The Armed Forces of the
cannot deny its culpability in the 184 cases of enforced disappearances. Only
the AFP would have the motive to abduct these victims, especially the NDFP
consultants like Calubid, Leo Velasco and the others whom they have named in
their order of Battle, and are now disappeared," Portajada said.
Portajada noted that the NDFP consultants who were abducted in 2006 remain
missing up to now, namely: Rogelio Calubad and his son Gabriel, Philip Limjoco,
Leopoldo Ancheta, Rolando Porter and Cesar Batralo. Also, still missing is Leo Velasco who was
abducted on February 19, 2007. ###