Army: No special treatment for 2 soldiers in kidnap case

MANILA, Philippines - The Army yesterday said there is no special treatment accorded to two soldiers tagged along with retired general Jovito Palparan in the disappearance of two student activists in 2006.

Maj. Harold Cabunoc, spokesman of the Army, said Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado Jr. and S/Sgt. Edgardo Osorio are being treated like other prisoners detained in their custodial center.

“The building that houses Sgt. Osorio and Col. Anotado is just like any detention facility,” he said.

“We would like to inform the public that the Army has complied with all the requirements of a detention facility,” he added.

Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors yesterday visited the Army’s custodial center in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig to look into the two soldiers’ conditions.

The visit was scheduled after the court had granted the DOJ’s request to conduct an ocular inspection of the Army Custodial Management Unit. The inspection of the Army facility started at 12:45 p.m. and ended at 3 p.m.

The Army has been accused of giving special treatment to the two military personnel.

“The DOJ and private complainants wanted to verify if indeed there is an Army detention facility and no special treatment being accorded to the accused military personnel,” Cabunoc said.

Among those who visited the facility were Judge Teodora Gonzales of Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 14, DOJ prosecutors led by Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Navera, and lawyers of the private complainants headed by Edre Olalia and Erlinda Cadapan. 

Members of the inspection team were welcomed by military officers led by Brig. Gen. Herbert Yambing.

“In the principle of transparency and accountability, we welcomed the inspection team to the Army Custodial Management Unit,” Cabunoc said.

The building that houses the detention cell of Anotado and Osorio has six rooms with a common toilet. It has windows for ventilation and ceiling fan to lessen the heat of the sunlight.

It is surrounded by a six-foot high perimeter fence laid with concertina wires that could harm possible intruders or escapees. Army soldiers man two watchtowers round the clock.

The facility can accommodate at least 35 detainees at a time. Only soldiers who are accused committing service-related offenses are taken into custody by the camp commander.

Anotado and Osorio were charged along with Palparan with kidnapping and serious illegal detention for the disappearance of student activists Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño in 2006.

The two were transferred to the Army Custodial Management Unit last Dec. 23.  – With Aie Balagtas See