Itaas not a political prisoner but a murderer convicted by the court –DND

An official of the Department of National Defense (DND) on Tuesday underscored that calling Juanito Itaas a political prisoner was a misrepresentation of the court’s ruling that convicted him as a murderer of United States Colonel James Rowe in 1989.

“Itaas, who was working as an operative of the NPA's Special Partisan Armed Unit (SPARU), was tried and found guilty of killing Col. Rowe, who was the Joint RP-US Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG) Ground Forces Division Chief when he was murdered,” DND Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu said in a statement.

“Itaas served 32 years of his sentence and was released through a court ruling that allowed him to benefit from the Good Conduct Time Allowance credits as provided by Republic Act 10592,” Mapagu added.

The Muntinlupa RTC Branch 204 granted the writ of habeas corpus filed by Itaas' camp.

In June 1989, Rowe was shot and killed at the corner of Tomas Morato Street and Timog Avenue in Quezon City while his driver, Joaquin Vinuya, was severely injured.

Itaas was arrested in Davao City and then brought to Manila, where he confessed that he was one of those who fired at the car.

However, Itaas later testified that he was tortured by his captors in Davao City, adding that he was "blindfolded, hit, and mauled while cellophane was placed on his head, leading him to lose consciousness."

Itaas further said that he was threatened and made to admit to sworn statements written by a Central Intelligence Service officer.

Meanwhile, Mapagu lauded the country’s judicial system for functioning by the Constitution.

“This is evidence that our courts and judicial system are functioning in accordance with the Philippine Constitution,” he added.

The Supreme Court in 2000 affirmed the conviction and found Itaas guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and sentenced him to reclusion perpetua.

According to the Muntinlupa court, Itaas had been detained for more than 30 years while he earned 29 years from his Good Conduct Time Allowances. — DVM, GMA News