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Friday, June 16, 2006
Officer relieved over arrest of 5 Estrada supporters
MANILA -- Military officials replaced a top intelligence officer to pave way for a full-blown investigation involving the illegal arrest and alleged torture of five supporters of former President Joseph Estrada.
Lieutenant Colonel Henry Robinson, commander of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Military Intelligence Group 15 (Isafp-MIG 15), would be relinquishing his post on Saturday, said sources in the military who declined to be named.
The sources requested that the name of Robinson's successor be withheld because his job involves intelligence work.
One of the sources said Isafp chief Commodore Leonardo Calderon relieved Robinson "in view of the ongoing investigation, pre-trial investigation" being conducted by the office of the Judge Advocate General.
"It's part of the procedure (on investigation) for them to attend to the pre-trial investigation," another source said.
Robinson is one of the eight MIG 15 officers and men who were placed on "technical arrest" shortly after they arrested Virgilio Eustaquio, chairman of the pro-Estrada Union of Masses for Democracy and Justice, Police Officers 3 Ruben Dionisio, Dennis Ebona, Jose Justo Curameng, and Jim Cabauatan last May 22 in Quezon City.
Intelligence officials linked the five to a plot to assassinate President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and four Cabinet officials. Investigators later endorsed a complaint of rebellion against the suspects before the justice department.
But the Department of Justice ordered the release of the five from detention pending the conduct of preliminary investigation due to lack of evidence. Shortly before their release, the five claimed to have tortured by intelligence office operatives.
Dionisio claimed his interrogators tortured him so that he would admit to being the secretary of the Metro Manila-Rizal Party Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army.
The military later ordered a pre-trial investigation against Robinson and his men, preparatory to court martial, for violation of the Articles of War 96 and
97 or conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman and conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline, respectively.
Armed Forces officials have vowed to punish the Isafp officers and men who "inflicted injuries" on the five Estrada supporters, saying all military personnel are supposed to respect human rights. (VR/Sunnex)
(June 16, 2006 issue)
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