PINOYCHANNELS-1ST LAWSUIT VS EX-PRESIDENT 6 of ‘Morong 43’ sue Arroyo et al.

1ST LAWSUIT VS EX-PRESIDENT
6 of ‘Morong 43’ sue Arroyo et al.

P15M in damages sought
By Julie M. Aurelio, Dona Pazzibugan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:16:00 04/05/2011

Filed Under: Human Rights, Litigation & Regulations, Justice & Rights, Military, Torture, insurgency

MANILA, Philippines—It was a birthday “present” like no other for former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who lost her immunity from suit when she stepped down on June 30 last year.

Six members of the “Morong 43” Monday lodged a P15-million civil suit against Arroyo, now a Pampanga representative, and 10 others for illegal arrest and torture.

The case was filed by Dr. Merry Mia Clamor, Dr. Alexis Montes, nurse Gary Liberal, Ma. Teresa Quinawayan, Reynaldo Macabenta and Mercy Castro, who were among the group of health workers detained last year in Morong, Rizal, on suspicion of being communist rebels.

“We want GMA to know that she can’t get away with what she did,” said Edre Olalia of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), who accompanied the plaintiffs in filing the suit in the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

Olalia said he had no idea that April 5 was the birthday of Arroyo. “This is totally unconnected,” he said at the Quezon City Hall of Justice.

Arroyo declined to comment on the suit. Her spokesperson, Elena Bautista-Horn, said that Arroyo’s lawyers had advised the former President against giving any comment until they had secured a copy of the formal complaint.

The suit seeks the award of moral and exemplary damages and payment of the cost of litigation.

The health workers, dubbed the Morong 43, were suspected to be rebels and arrested in February 2010. They were charged with various crimes, including illegal possession of firearms and explosives in the Morong Regional Trial Court.

The military claimed that the group was conducting training on explosives at a resort when they were arrested. The workers said they were holding a health seminar.

Nearly a year in jail

The health workers spent nearly a year in detention at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, where they alleged the torture took place.

Shortly before Christmas last year, they were freed based on President Benigno Aquino III’s order withdrawing the criminal information against them.