MANILA -- Six members of the "Morong 43" filed Monday a P15-million civil suit against former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Arroyo and 10 others for alleged illegal arrest and torture.
Dr. Merry Mia-Clamor, Dr. Alexis Montes, Gary Liberal, Ma. Teresa Quinawayan, Mercy Castro, and Reynaldo Macabenta filed the case against Arroyo and 10 military officials before the Quezon City Hall of Justice at 11 a.m.
Aside from the former President, also charged were former National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, former Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Victor Ibrado, former Army chief Major General Delfin Bangit, former 2nd Infantry Division chief Major General Jorge Segovia, Lieutenant Colonel Cristobal Zaragosa, Major Manuel Tabion, Colonel Aurelio Baladlad, Lieutenant Colonel Jaime Abawag and Superintendent Marion Balolong and Superintendent Allan Nubleza.
The Morong 43 health workers were detained for 10 months in February 2010 on suspicion that they were members of the New People’s Army.
They were charged with various crimes, including illegal possession of firearms and explosives in the Morong Regional Trial Court.
"We want to send a strong message that one cannot just get away with human rights violations. This is our contribution to efforts in making sure that human rights violators are made accountable for their actions," Liberal said.
He said Arroyo was included in the case as she was the military’s commander-in-chief during the time of their alleged torture.
The case lodged against Arroyo and the military officials 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, the complainants said. (Sunnex)