Army officers harass, torture 7 civilians?

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — Army officers belonging to the 62nd Infantry Brigade in Negros Occidental have been accused by a human rights group of alleged harassment and torture of seven civilians in Toboso and Escalante City this week.

Bernardino Patigas, secretary-general of Northern Negros Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, presented two of the seven alleged victims to the media in a press conference Friday.

They were identified as Joel Danoso, 33, and Fausto Uyanib, both of Brgy. Winaswasan Calatrava town.

Lieutenant Col. Edgardo Gubat, commander of the 62nd IB, in an interview yesterday denied the charges. He said the Army soldiers have been told to respect human rights at all times, stressing that this was his standing directive to his troops.

Gubat also challenged the alleged victims to identify the soldiers who tortured them so he can take proper action against them. He added he will not tolerate the misdeeds of his troops, if proven guilty.

Patigas said the alleged harassments and torture happened on August 1 and 3. Danoso claimed the soldiers arrested them Monday 3 p.m. at sitio Aniya while he was feeding his animals.

“They shot us but failed to hit us. They forced us to go with them to a secluded place, blindfolded with our heads covered with plastics. They forced us to admit we were members of the New People’s Army (NPA) but we vehemently denied it,” Danoso alleged in Ilonggo.

He said they were only freed when their respective families complained to authorities and demanded their release.

They further alleged the Army arrested Melvin Pakatang, 51, and Antonio Donalerio, 50, at Sitio Malig-on Brgy. Bandila, Toboso and forced them to go with them aboard a helicopter Wednesday morning. They were also forced to admit that they were members of the NPA. Hernani Pakatang, son of Melvin, was also captured, they said.

Patigas also claimed Evelyn Tapang, Jocelyn Villarosa and Alfredo Favilla of Sitio Pinaupakan Brgy. Bandila Toboso were also threatened by the same soldiers Wednesday afternoon. Patigas said the victims were only members of the Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and not of the NPA. (FREEMAN)