As it turned out, Delgado told MindaNews, political detainees in the provincial jail relayed the news to Karapatan Eastern Visayas about the arrival of Cabales and Cacdac.
Cabales’ photo at the Palo jail in Leyte on April 1. Photo courtesy of Hustisya!
The two were brought to the provincial jail on March 26 and are reportedly detained there on charges of multiple murder allegedly committed in Baybay, Leyte.
Delgado said they were informed that Cabales and Cacdac have been operating in Compostela Valley but not in Leyte. “In fact, March 26 was their first time to go to Leyte,” he said.
Cacdac’s photo at the Palo jail in Leyte on April 1. Photo courtesy of Hustisya!
In a press statement dated April 2, Hustisya Kabanay said that based on the account of Cabales and Cacdac, they and Nelson Carbajosa were “abducted by the military at Purok 23, Pulanglupa Barangay Ngan, Compostela, Compostela Valley Province” on January 26 and brought to the 10th ID headquarters at Camp Panacan in Davao City “where they suffered forced and long interrogation for a week.”
Their relatives filed a petition for a Writ of Amparo on January 29 at the Regional Trial Court Branch 3 against Lt. Col. Manuel Sequtin of the 66th IB, Philippine Army (PA), New Bataan, Compostela Valley, Lt. Col. Ferdinand Budin of the 28th IB, PA, Lt. Col. Allan Luga of the 1001st Brigade, PA, Maco, Compostela Valley, Lt. Col. Victor Tan, 72nd IB, PA, Tuburan, Mawab,Compostela Valley, Maj. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, Eastern Mindanao Command, PA, Camp Panacan, Davao City, and Maj. Gen. Leo Jogy Fojas, 10th ID, PA (Agila), Camp Panacan, Davao City.
Hustisya said that based on the account of Cabales and Cacdac, after the week-long interrogation at the 10th ID headquarters in Panacan, they were “transferred to Bukidnon, to R. Pablos Resort in Gingoog City and to Digos City.”
“In the entire time they were at the hands of the military, they were forced to show themselves for a video footage as having voluntarily surrendered, not abducted or arrested,” Hustisya said.
The press statement added that on March 25, Cabales and Cacdac were brought to the house of Mayor Manuel Brilliantes, Jr., in Monkayo where they were presented as NPA surrenderers.
“Video footages and photographs were again taken showing them as bearing firearms. They were forced to sign documents testifying their voluntary surrender and refuting any claims that they were abducted by the military,” Hustisya said.
From Monkayo, Hustisya said, Cabales and Cacdac were brought to Surigao City’s port “where they boarded a ship bound for Ormoc” and “were taken straight to Leyte Provincial Jail at Brgy. Kauswagan, Palo, Leyte.”
“While we rejoice for the safety of our loved ones, we are aghast and dismayed with the grave deception and cover up, the brutality and the extreme mockery on the part of the 10th Infantry Divisio
n which engineered the abduction, the enforced disappearance, and continued denial despite a writ of amparo and the public clamor for the release of the three victims,” Hustisya spokesperson Genevieve Guinoo, said.
“Hustisya Kabanay has been informed of the safety of the other NPA combatant Nelson Carbajosa who is purportedly in the custody of Juanito Morales a Barangay Capatain in Kapatagan, Digos City,” the statement read.
Delgado said they have yet to confirm if Carbajosa is, indeed, in the custody of Morales. He told MindaNews they are still awaiting the arrival of his family.
Hustisya said that on February 26, a month after the abduction of the three NPA members, relatives of Catherine, Ruel and Nelson received their copy of the order of the Regional Trial Court Branch 3 signed by Judge. Hilarion Clapis Jr. for the release of the victims.
A camp inspection was conducted by the family, relatives of the three victims and other organizations from different sectors on March 17, 2009 at the 66th IB camp, in New Bataan , Compostela Valley, based on a Special Proclamation Case No. 819 for the Writ of Amparo.
Delgado and Hustisya said the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ 10th Infantry Division and 66th IB have repeatedly denied the abduction of the three NPA combatants.
Maj. Cris Mortela, deputy for civil-military operations of the 10th ID, told MindaNews they heard the news about Cabales and Cacdac found in a Leyte jail. “We don’t have the details yet. We have to check yet the reported surrender in Monkayo of Roel Caballes and Catherine Cacdac. Pero confirmed kulong parehas sa Palo, Leyte. Ka Django (Carbajosa’s alias) on the other hand surrendered in Digos.”
Delgado maintains the three NPA guerrillas were “abducted, illegally arrested and arbitrarily detained.”
Delgado said they will submit to Judge Clapis the sworn statement of Cabales and Cacdac. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)
