Military officer in Olalia, Alay-ay double murder case surrenders

MANILA, Philippines – One of the military officers accused in the murder of labor leader Rolando Olalia and his driver, Leonor Alay-ay, in 1986 has surrendered to the Philippine Army.

“Retired Colonel Eduardo Kapunan Jr,  voluntarily surrendered to the Philippine Army last October 6, Saturday, at about 11 a.m.,” Major Harold M. Cabunoc, Army public affairs chief, said in a statement Wednesday night.

The Army said Kapunan was immediately checked by an Army doctor to determine his medical condition and “he was found to have a high blood pressure (190/110) and that he had undergone triple heart bypass this year.”

“He was immediately detained at the Army Detention facility right after his medical examinations,” the Army said.

On Monday, the Philippine Army through its legal officer, Captain Alex Alberto Popanes, has returned the warrant to Branch 98 of Antipolo City, Rizal.

“The Philippine Army is awaiting for and will abide to any order of the court as to the custody and detention of Colonel Kapunan,” the statement said.

The arrest warrant was issued by the court on February 3, 2012 against Kapunan for two counts of murder.

Meanwhile, lawyer Edre Olalia of the National Union of People’s Lawyers and one of the private prosecutors for Olalia and Alay-ay said they have found out about the surrender and objected Kapunan’s detention in the military.

“We welcome that definitely…but why did he surrender after all these years. We object his detention at Fort Bonifacio as he is already a retired officer,” he told INQUIRER.net by phone.

“The law requires that all persons arrested must be brought to police station,” he added.

Army chief Lieutenant General Emmanuel Bautista said they are waiting for the court’s order on turning over Kapunan to proper authorities.

Olalia was a leader of the Kilusang Mayo Uno and he was killed with his driver in 1986, eight months after the Edsa people power 1, with soldiers from Reform the Armed Forces Movement as suspects.

He was found dead at dawn in a grassy knoll in Antipolo on November 13, 1986 after he was kidnapped coming from a union meeting during the turbulent years of Corazon Aquino’s administration.

His eyes were gouged, his mouth agape and stuffed with newspaper. He was hogtied and was wearing only his underwear when his body was found with gunshot and stab wounds all over his body. Alay-ay was himself in a sorry state when his lifeless body was found a few meters away.

Among the accused in the killing of the labor leader are Oscar Legaspi, Filomeno Maligaya, Cirilo Almario, Jose Bacera, Fernando Casanova, Ricardo Dicon, Gilbert Galicia, Dennis Jabatan, Gene Paris, Freddie Sumagaysay and Edgar Sumido – all members of the ultra-rightist RAM.

It is widely believed that RAM carried out actions, including the assassination of labor leader Olalia in 1986 and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan leader Lean Alejandro in 1987, with the goal of destabilizing the new government of then-President Corazon Aquino.

Originally posted 6:01 p.m.