Former political prisoners, the ‘Morong 43’, health workers alleged to be New People’s Army members, are opposing the promotion of concurrent Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) chief Major General Jorge Segovia against whom they have filed a case.
In April last year, the Morong 43 filed before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court a civil case against Segovia along with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other government, military, and police officials.
The officials were accused of having violated the Civil Code’s Articles 27, 32, and 33 in their involvement ‘in the illegal arrest, torture and detention of the 43 health workers.’
“A public servant who has a case against him or her should not be promoted. That’s the law,” said Karapatan chairperson Marie Hilao-Enriquez through a statement.
“We were alarmed upon learning of the recent appointment of Segovia as well as Brig. Gen. Aurelio Baladad. Col. Jaime Abawag, whom we’ve also filed our case against, has not yet been promoted but we are noting him for future reference. They should not be promoted they being perpetrators of gross human rights violations,” she added.
This week, activist human rights group Karapatan and the Council for Health and Development (CHD) formally wrote a letter to Commission on Appointments (CA) secretary Arturo Tiu expressing their objection to the promotion of Segovia.
Segovia was formerly the chief of the Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division before he replaced Lieutenant General Arthur I. Tabaquero who retired.
Also cited in the Morong 43 case were former National Security adviser Norberto Gonzales, former Chief of Staff Gen. Victor Ibrado, Gen. DelfinBangit, Lt. Col. Victorino Zaragoza, Maj. Manuel Tabion, Supt. Marion Balolong, Supt. Allan Nubleza, and other military and police officials.
Plaintiffs are Dr. Merry Mia Clamor, Dr. Alexis Montes, and health workers Gary Liberal, Ma. Teresa Quinawayan, Reynaldo Makabenta and Mercy Castro among others.
Enriquez said the group has also filed a complaint before the Commission on Human Rights on February of 2010 against Segovia and Baladad.
The health workers were arrested in February 2009 in Morong, Rizal under the military OplanBantay-Laya campaign of the Arroyo regime.
On December 2010, the Morong 43 wereordered released by President Benigno Aquino, after being imprisoned for ten months.
“Pres. Noynoy Aquino said it himself, that the arrest and detention of the health workers are ‘fruits of the poisonous tree.’ It is, however, lamentable that instead of immediately prosecuting those responsible for their illegal arrests and incarceration, the promotion of these military and police officers are being effected,” Tanggol Bayi convenor Cristina Palabay said.
“It is déjà vu, similar to the period of former Pres. Arroyo, when Maj. Gen. JovitoPalparan Jr. who, despite many cases filed against him, was heaped upon with promotions and accolades,” she added. [Jade C. Zaldivar]
