‘Morong 43’ suit vs Arroyo et al. raffled off to QC court
MANILA, Philippines—The P15-million damage suit lodged by six members of the “Morong 43” against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and 10 others has been raffled off for hearing to a Quezon City court.
Records showed that the case was raffled off to Regional Trial Court Branch 226 on Thursday afternoon.
However, the civil complaint for damages has not yet been docketed as the motion to litigate as indigent filed by three of the plaintiffs is awaiting approval by the court.
The case was filed Monday by Dr. Merry Mia Clamor, Dr. Alexis Montes, nurse Gary Liberal, Ma. Teresa Quinawayan, Reynaldo Macabenta and Mercy Castro through the assistance of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers.
The P15-million civil complaint is the first move of the Morong 43–group of health workers detained last year in Morong, Rizal on suspicion of being communist rebels—against Arroyo, now a Pampanga congresswoman.
The case filed against Arroyo et al. was based on four causes of action, which included physical, verbal and psychological abuses; illegal arrest, detention and other violations of their constitutional rights; and divesting of the plaintiffs’ personal belongings.
Also named as defendants in the 19-page complaint were former National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, former Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Victor Ibrado, former Army chief Major General Delfin Bangit and former 2nd Infantry Division chief Major General Jorge Segovia.
The other defendants were Lieutenant Colonel Cristobal Zaragosa, Major Manuel Tabion, Colonel Aurelio Balalad, Lieutenant Colonel Jaime Abawag and Superintendents Marion Balolong and Allan Nubleza—all based in Camp Capinpin.
The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Attorney Edre Olalia of the NUPL, said he was unaware that the case has been raffled to a court branch.
The P15-million damage suit includes the award of actual, moral and exemplary damages to the six litigants as well as the cost of litigation.
Arroyo and Gonzales, the case said, were then in a position to stop the alleged violations of the Morong 43’s rights as the ex-president was sent several pleas on the plight of the workers.
The health workers were arrested in February 2010 on suspicion of being rebels. They were later charged with various crimes including illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
Of the 43 health workers, five remain in custody while the rest were freed shortly before Christmas last year based on President Aquino’s order to withdraw the charges against them.
