Families of "salvage" victims to file case against military

CEBU, Philippines - The families of two men allegedly salvaged by members of the armed forces last month will file a complaint against the 79th Infantry Battalion before the Commission on Human Rights.

Alejandra Quirante, wife of Julito Quirante and Virginia Raging, mother of Ronel Raging, yesterday acquired from the National Bureau of Investigation copies of the autopsy results conducted on the victims’ body.

They said the documents would be attached to the complaint they will file against the 79th IB. 

In a press conference yesterday, Virginia alleged that the government troops have been harassing their family in Sta. Catalina town in Negros Oriental.

Her son allegedly was constantly subjected to interrogation each time the troops passed by their house while on patrol.

For her part, Alejandra alleged that even before her husband went missing, he was placed under arrest on January 15, 2009.  

Quirante was allegedly brought to the 79th IB headquarters in the neighboring town of Siaton and was then then turned over to the police station in Sta. Catalina.

But the Sta. Catalina police reportedly released Quirante after realizing that he has no pending cases before the court.  

Virginia and Alejandra said they were able to recover the remains of Quirante and Raging after they talked to several witnesses who reportedly led them to where the soldiers allegedly buried the bodies.

Witnesses reportedly saw members of the 79th IB arrest and tied Quirante and Raging up and led the two towards the forested are of sitio Junob in Nagbinlod, Sta. Catalina town.

Last March 9, eight days after Quirante and Raging went missing, the victims’ families recovered the bodies with the help of Karapatan and NBI.

Quirante and Raging were members of the militant organization Kapunungan Alang sa Ugma sa Gagmay’ng Mag-uuma sa Oriental Negros. — Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)