AFP hails acquittal of cops, soldiers behind 'Morong 43' detention

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has welcomed the Sandiganbayan's dismissal of the case filed against seven police and military officers behind the February 2010 arrest of 43 health workers in Morong, Rizal collectively known as “Morong 43."

In a statement on Saturday, AFP spokesperson Marine Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo said the AFP is "elated that justice is served for the respondent military (and police) officers," even as they had yet to obtain a copy of the court decision and learned about it only from news reports.

Among those cleared by the anti-graft court's Seventh Division were then-generals Jorge Segovia, Aurelio Baladad, and Joselito Reyes, and Brigadier General Cristobal Zaragoza.

The military officials were accused of conspiring with police officials Marion Balonglong, Allan Nobleza and Jovily Carmel Cabading to deny Morong 43 of their right to a counsel of their choice.

According to the AFP, the dismissal of the case against the three now-retired and lone surviving generals "further goes to show that the AFP abides by the mandates of the Bill of Rights."

It added that the ruling "implies that the allegations are unfounded even as we maintain that the charges are meant to legally harass security forces who were in a legitimate combat and law enforcement operation."

In its 39-page ruling, the court granted the seven military and police officers' demurrer to evidence due to the prosecution's failure to prove that the arrested health workers have their counsel of choice at the time of arrest and detention.

The court said the human rights lawyers from the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) were not proven to be the lawyers of choice.

Arevalo said the AFP "enjoins NUPL President Edre Olalia to respect the decision of the court and avail of legal remedies available." — MDM, GMA News