‘Abadilla 5’ wives need help finding cops
The wives of two of the “Abadilla 5”—the men convicted of killing Lt. Col. Rolando Abadilla—have sought the help of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in locating 10 policemen facing charges in court for allegedly torturing the convicts in the murder case.
In a letter to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima dated June 11, Melani de Guzman and Marilou Lumanog lamented that 10 of the suspects remained at large, namely, Chief Insp. Robert Ganzon, SPO4 Juanito Cabiling, PO3 Wilfred Hidalgo, and others identified only as Romeo Rejis, Anthony Rodolfo, Rogelio Castillo, Inspector Ceddamon, SPO4 Ramira, SPO2 C. Nocum and SPO1 Pobre.
“We humbly seek your assistance for the arrest of the PNP officers,” De Guzman and Lumanog told De Lima.
Three suspects—Supt. Dario Anasco, SPO2 Pio Tarala and SPO2 Edilberto Nicanor—posted bail after being arraigned on June 9 at Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 225.
Three other suspects have died.
Lumanog’s husband, Leonido, and De Guzman’s husband, Rameses de Jesus, together with Cesar Fortuna, Lorenzo de los Santos and Joel de Jesus said they were tortured to make them confess to the murder of Abadilla.
The Commission on Human Rights recommended charges against the policemen who arrested the Abadilla 5.
Last April, the Office of the Ombudsman, acting on the recommendation of the DOJ, filed against the police officers cases for violation of Article 235 of the Revised Penal Code (maltreatment of prisoners) of Section 2(a), (b) and (f) of Republic Act No. 7438 (Rights of persons arrested, detained and under custodial investigation).–Jerome Aning
