‘Guard, not CPP leader arrested’

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) was asked yesterday to order authorities to release a man arrested in Quezon City earlier this month and who the military tagged as a top official of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

In a nine-page petition, the common-law wife and sister of Rolly Panesa claimed that the authorities got the wrong man, as Panesa is a security guard.

They said the arrested man is not CPP official Benjamin Mendoza as what the military had alleged.

Petitioners Marites Chioco and Jiose Panesa said this could easily be verified through Panesa’s employment, birth and school records.

They, however, admitted there are discrepancies in the records, dismissing them as mere typographical errors.

The petitioners added that the arrest warrant stated that Mendoza is 61 years old while Panesa is just 48.

Chioco alleged that his common-law husband was tortured into admitting that he was Mendoza at Camp Vicente Lim in Canlubang, Laguna.

They asked the SC to issue a writ of habeas corpus ordering the Armed Forces and national police to produce Panesa before the high court.