UPDATE (Philippines): Military fails to turn personnel charged with murder over to the police

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you of the continuing failure by the leadership of the military to surrender their men, including a sergeant who is subject to arrest for the murder of a couple, Bacar and his wife Carmen Japalali nearly three years ago in Tagum City, Mindanao. Even though arrest warrants have already been issued five months ago, only three of the eight accused have so far been turned over to police custody on 21 May 2007. There are also difficulties by the victims’ family and the police to locate the whereabouts of the other accused even though they are still active in service.

UPDATED INFORMATION:

According to the information received from the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)-Mindanao, only Private first class (PFCs) Mark Perocho Sabellano, Rodel Nali Bacangoy and Jupil Perocho Balilihan, have so far been turned-over to the custody of the Tagum City Police Office on May 21.

Prior to this, it took the victims’ family and staff of TFDP an extremely hard time together with the police even to serve the arrest warrants at the military headquarters where the accused are reported to have been assigned. The police officers attached to the Mawab Municipal Police Station, Compostela Valley, who are supposed to serve the arrest orders in the past had also earlier showed either or unwillingness or inaction to serve the order for insufficient reasons.

It was only on 11 December 2006, when the Regional Trial Court (RTC) transmitted the arrest order to the Mawab Municipal Police Station. The sending of order, however, was overly delayed and was relayed to the victims’ family and TFDP only on December 8; thereby raising suspicions the court personnel could have deliberately tried to hide the information from them. Had it not due to the repeated follow up and inquiries made they would have not known it. When they obtained the copy of the arrest orders, they found out it was signed as early as November 22.

The apparent unwillingness by the police to serve the order likewise took place on January 24 when warrant officer Senior Police Office 1 (SPO1) Ronaldo Bizar, told the victims’ families that he was waiting for them to accompany the police in serving the arrest orders. The police’ inaction to immediately serve the order resulted to its default which is only effective ten days upon their receipt. What the police did instead was to return the copies of the orders to the court, as required by law, informing the court they have not made arrests yet.

On January 26, when another follow-up was made, the Chief of Police (CoP) of the same police station had informed the victims’ family that he already instructed his warrant officer to serve the order but the military men have already been transferred to another area of assignment. As a result of this delay, the victims’ family and the police had to finalize the serving of warrant together with the police. On January 30, the warrant officer and two of his colleagues went to the military’s headquarter in Mawab, Compostela Valley. They were accompanied by TFDP staff when they speak to Colonel Roberto Domines, Jr., the Deputy Brigade commander of the 1001st Infantry Brigade (IB), Philippine Army, to whom they showed copies of the arrest orders. They were told by Col. Domines that the unit where the said military men are attached, 404th Infantry Battalion, was already transferred to another area and that they would have to verify it yet. He, however, promised that once they finish verifying their whereabouts, they would surrender them by early February to the custody of the police station in Mawab.

It is later learned that four of the accused had been transferred to the 4th Infantry Division (ID) in Camp Edilberto Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro City– the place that is too far from where they were previously assigned. The other four were also reported to have been assigned in 10th Infantry Division (ID), Philippine Army in Davao City.

On February 26, Brigadier General Carlos Holganza, commanding general of the 1001st IB, had announced in public when interviewed by a local television station at that time that they have already recalled the said military men back to their post in order to face their charges.

On May 3, the victims’ families went to 1001st IB headquarters and once again spoke with Col. Domines. When they were inquiring the whereabouts of the accused military, Col. Domines informed them that he already forwarded their names and submitted a report to their battalion at their Camp in Panacan, Davao City.

Later the victims’ family went to 10th ID and spoke with their legal officer, Captain Jenny Limjuco, once again inquiring about the whereabouts of the military men. Capt. Limjuco informed them instead to serve the arrest orders and that they would locate their whereabouts. It was on May 10 when the TFDP staffs were informed by Lieutenant Irma Ramos of the 1001st IB, by way of an SMS message, that the military men have been detailed at the 10th ID headquarters purposely for the trial of their case. To read the background of the case: UA-72-2005; UP-130-2006.

On May 16, another follow up was made from Capt. Limjuco regarding the military men’s whereabouts, she had confirmed that five of them are assigned at their office but did not name them, while the other three others had been assigned to Camp Edilberto Evangelista. There are strong beliefs however that one of them could be the team leader of the military unit when the killing took place, Sergeant Serafin Jerry Napoles, could be in 10th ID. An arrangement was made to serve the arrest orders on May 21.

When a team of police from Tagum City served the arrest warrant on May 21, only three of the military men were turned over by Capt. Limjuco to the police. She said that the two others are still on mission order and that they could serve again the arrest orders once they would come back. On May 23, the three military men were already release from police custody after posting bail.

On May 22, the victims’ family and TFDP have coordinated with the police in serving the warrant of arrest in Camp Edilberto Evangelista. It was later known that one of the accused, Sergeant Napoles had already been formerly assigned there since late 2006. Sergeant Napoles had appealed that he be reassigned to 10th ID in Davao City in order to work out the pending case against him. Sergeant Napoles was placed on detached service (DS) effective May 15.

It is reported that Sergeant Napoles had already applied for retirement by the end of 2006 and sought clearance from the office of the Ombudsman for Military but was denied because of the pending case against him. He also had a pending administrative case with Office of the Judge Advocate General (Jago). On May 23, when the victims’ family went to 10th ID in Davao City, to verify the whereabouts of Sergeant Napoles they were prevented from entering the camp telling them that they had been given a directives from their senior officers to prevent human rights groups from entering.

Sergeant Napoles’ whereabouts, however, have yet to be verified whether or not he is presently assigned at 10th ID headquarter, and his four other men who are yet to be arrested or turned over to police custody are assigned in their respective headquarters. It is learned that Private Eusebio Entero is assigned at 36th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Bislig, Mangagoy, Surigao del Sur; Private Niel Araneta at the 401 IB in Dayo-an, Tandag, Surigao del Sur; Private Ugsod at the 29th IB in Noli, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur. But the whereabouts of Private Sumogoy remains unknown.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the authorities listed below requesting for their effective and immediate intervention to exhaust all means that the whereabouts of the military men, in particular Sergeant Serafin Jerry Napoles, are located and that they are subsequently turned over to police custody to face charges against them. The leadership of the military should cooperate with the police. It must prove it does not condone acts of their men by ensuring that they taken before a court of law to face their charges.

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER