P15M suit trial vs Gloria begins today

MANILA, Philippines - A Quezon City court on Friday will be conducting a pre-trial of the P15-million civil suit against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo filed by health workers who were allegedly illegally detained and tortured in 2010.

The health workers, who called themselves "Morong 43", also appealed to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 96 to convict Mrs. Arroyo and her military officials for human rights violations.

“We want GMA and her cohorts to pay for their human rights abuses,” Dr. Alex Montes, one of the Morong 43 and plaintiffs, said.

The health workers were arrested by military and police during a raid in a house in Morong, Rizal in 2010.

Authorities reportedly confiscated firearms and bomb-making components from the health workers.

The other defendants in the case are former National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, former Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Victor Ibrado, former Army chief Maj. Gen. Delfin Bangit and former 2nd Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Jorge Segovia.

Also included are Lt. Col. Cristobal Zaragosa, Maj. Manuel Tabion, Col. Aurelio Baladlad, Lt. Col. Jaime Abawag and Supt. Marion Balolong and Supt. Allan Nubleza -- all based in Camp Capinpin at the time the civil suit was filed in April 2011.

Mrs. Arroyo, now a Pampanga congresswoman, is under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City for plunder case before the Sandiganbayan.

She is also facing electoral fraud charges before the Pasay City court. - Dennis Carcamo