PHILIPPINES: Two university students incarcerated a year ago in Central Luzon

Dear Friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you of the arbitrary arrest and detention of two university students in Central Luzon over a year ago. The victims were conducting research when the military illegally arrested them. They were interrogated about the whereabouts of the New People’s Army (NPA) and its firearms, and forced to confess to being its members.

CASE DETAILS: (Based on the documentation by Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights (KARAPATAN) and Auckland Philippine Solidarity (APS))

On 9 August 2014, Gerald Salonga and Guiller Cadano were staying in their host’s house to finalize their research papers for the Farmers Alliance in Central Luzon. At 1pm, Gerald and Guiller were watching a DVD film with their host when they heard someone shout “Raid!” Immediately after, soldiers forcibly entered the house and held the two at gunpoint. Gerald and Guiller were ordered to lie face down while they were blindfolded and their wrists tightly cuffed behind their backs. Gerald was able to read patches of scout ranger, 3rd IB and 7th ID on the soldiers’ uniform before he was blindfolded.

Gerald and Guiller were dragged into separate vehicles. The soldiers put earphones on Gerald inside the vehicle, while threatening to hurt him and ordering him to cooperate. Gerald was taken to an undisclosed location and was forced to admit, out of fear, that he and Guiller had firearms. The military asked Gerald several questions, such as where are the New People’s Army (NPA) and where are their firearms deposited. Later, Gerald’s interrogators brought him to another place, where his blindfold was removed and he was photographed with firearms, papers and bullets in front of him. 

In another vehicle, military officers accused Guiller of being an NPA member and asked for his firearms. One of his captors told him they found a gun inside his bag, although Guiller knew his bag only contained his clothes, toiletries, a portable speaker, wallet, cell phone, pen and writing pads and several identification cards including his University of the Philippines identification card. His belongings were taken from him. Fearing for his life, he was forced to admit that he is an NPA member. 

Guiller did not know where his captors took him. He was also interrogated about the NPA’s activities in Carranglan and Nueva Ecija. He was asked who the recruiters were and about the guns he supposedly used. Fearing torture or death, Guiller made up answers to tell the military. 

About 10 hours later, Gerald and Guiller were brought to the Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC) headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Cabanatuan City, where their blindfolds were removed. At 4 a.m. on August 10, the two were brought to the General Hospital in barangay Daang Sarile, Cabanatuan City for a medical check-up. Guiller’s boils were also treated. They were returned to the jail afterwards. 

In the morning of August 10, their families, accompanied by members of Karapatan-Central Luzon Quick Reaction Team (QRT) proceeded to the PPSC Jail. Only their families were allowed to see them. 

Guiller Cadano and Gerald Salonga were arrested without any warrants. Although police officials and those from the 3rd Infantry Battalion and 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army claimed in their affidavits that standing arrest warrants were issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 39 in San Jose City for murder; and RTC branch 38 for attempted murder, that warrant was in fact issued against a certain Ely Agbaliw Taray. The warrant was supposed to be served in Barangay Padilla, Carranglan town, but upon reaching the area, the PNP and the AFP instead arrested Cadano and Salonga. 

Later in the morning of August 10, Cadano and Salonga were brought to the house of a certain Prosecutor Edwin S. Bonifacio for inquest. It was only then that the two were charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives (Violations of RA 10591 and 9516). 
Cadano and Salonga are two of over 500 political prisoners facing trumped-up charges.

SUGGESTED ACTION: 

Please write letters to the concerned authorities listed below expressing your concern about the case of Gerald Salonga and Guiller Cadano.

The AHRC is also writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and Special Rapporteur on the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

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