MANILA, Philippines — (UPDATE) Six of the so-called Morong 43 filed on Monday a damage suit totalling P15-million against former President, now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and several other former ranking government and military officials over their illegal arrest and 10 months detention.
Aside from Arroyo, also named defendants in their complaint filed before a Quezon City Court include former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, former Chief of Staff General Victor Ibrado, General Delfin Bangit, former commander of the 2nd Infantry Division (ID) General Jorge Segovia, commander of the intelligence unit of the 2nd IDPA Lieutenant Colonel Cristobal Zaragosa, 2nd IDPA Warden Major Manuel Tabion, commander of the 202nd Infantry Batallion (IB) Colonel Aurelio Baladad, 16th IBPA commander Lieutenant Colonel Jaime Abawag, and Rizal Provincial Police Office commander Police Superintendent Marion Balolong.
The plaintiffs, in a statement said they are suing for the “physical and psychological torture and other forms of indignities suffered during their illegal arrest and detention.”
Doctors Merry Mia-Clamor and Alexis Montes, registered nurse Gary Liberal, registered midwife Ma. Teresa Quinawayan, and community health workers Reynaldo Macabenta and Mercy Castro, filed the case in behalf of the 43 health workers arrested by the military on Feb. 6, 2010 for allegedly conducting explosives training at a private residence in Morong, Rizal.
“We want to send a strong message that one cannot just get away with human rights violations,” the plaintiffs said.
“This is our contribution to efforts in making sure that human rights violators are made accountable for their actions,” Liberal stated.
On December last year, the Department of Justice (DoJ) withdrew the information for illegal possession of firearms and explosives, and violation of gun ban filed in court, thus prompting the release of the health workers before the end of 2010.