AFP pressed to release security guard

MANILA, Philippines—Militant groups on Tuesday trooped to the Court of Appeals which was hearing the case of the missing security guard allegedly taken by the military for being a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

The military will present three witnesses to prove that security guard Rolly Panesa and a certain Benjamin Mendoza, secretary of the CPP in Southern Luzon with a P5.6 million reward for his capture, are the same person.

Panesa’s family sought the court’s help for his release after he was taken by the military on Oct. 5, 2012 by joint elements of the 2nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army led by Southern Luzon Commander Major General Alan Luga and the Philippine National Police on Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City.

Respondents in the petition include Inspector Bernardino Edgar T. Camus, jail warden of the Security Intensive Care Area (SICA), Metro Manila District Jail; Maj. Gen. Alan Luga, Commanding General of the AFP Southern Luzon Command ; Maj. Gen. Eduardo D. del Rosario, Commanding General, 2nd Infantry Division, Philippine Army; Chief Superintendent James Andres B. Melad, Regional Director, Philippine National Police Regional Office IV; and, Senior Superintendent Manuel M. Abu, Chief of the Regional Intelligence Office of the PNP Regional Office IV.