Militants accuse gov’t of covering up Fil-Am’s abduction

MANILA, Philippines - Militants accused the government of trying to cover up the abduction of a Filipino-American activist and her two companions in Tarlac province last week. The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) contested the denials by the Presidential Human Rights Commission on the abduction of Melissa Roxas, Juanito Carabeo and John Edward Handoc. “It is ridiculous that the PHRC claims that no such report of an abduction was ever filed. It’s obvious that the PHRC did not conduct its own investigation. It seems that it merely relied on word of non-governmental organizations like FIND and AFAD. That the PHRC did not conduct its own probe shows the very little regard it has for the plight of the abducted activists," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said on the Bayan website (www.bayan.ph). “What is even more outrageous is that despite not conducting its own thorough investigation, despite existing police reports, the PHRC is now forwarding the theory that the three abducted activists were held by the New People’s Army. What is the PHRC’s basis for saying this? What shred of evidence to they have?" he added. He questioned in particular the PHRC's claim that there was no police report on the matter, as police in La Paz town in Tarlac had one. Bayan said that as of May 20, La Paz police head Chief Inspector Ronald Fernandez signed and filed a special report addressed to Tarlac Provincial Director Police Senior Superintendent Rudy Lacadin based in Camp Makabulos. The initial police investigation stemmed from the report of the homeowner where Roxas and company were abducted and by the report of the village captain of the area where the three were taken. “The PHRC has shown utter incompetence once more when it says that there are no police reports regarding the abduction of the three. This is a lie," he said. Reyes said Bayan received a copy of Fernandez’s report last May 24, from a Karapatan Central Luzon official who personally talked to the La Paz police. Lacadin eventually confirmed the incident to the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response, Bayan said. It added PACER contacted Karapatan to formally inquire about the abduction. Bayan said the Arroyo government is quick to absolve the military from any involvement and shifts the blame to other entities like the NPA. “There are credible indications that the three were abducted by elements of the military and were taken possibly to a military camp before their eventual release. There is an ongoing investigation as to the circumstances of the abduction. Right now, the organizations and the families of the victims are focused on looking after the recovery and well-being of the three," Reyes said. “The PHRC, by prejudging the incident as a mere propaganda tool by Bayan and Karapatan, shows that it has really no intention of uncovering the truth behind the abduction of Roxas and company. The Philippine government is more interested in saving face. From their statements, it is clear that the Arroyo government is gearing for another cover up, first by trying to downplay the incident and next, by blaming it on the NPA," he added. - GMANews.TV