Farmer ‘Abducted’ by Soldiers Escapes

From the Negros Daily Bulletin (May 5): Farmer ‘Abducted’ by Soldiers Escapes

A farmer who was "abducted by suspected assets of the 47th IB accompanied and instigated by soldiers," has escaped from his safehouse-detention center in Kabankalan City.

In an interview with newly-elected Kilusang Magbubukid-Negros Chapter, secretary-general Felipe Levy Gelle, he declared in the interview with "Tungkaron Ta Ini," radio program over radio station DYRL and in NDB/NNF interview, that a few days after Benny Catipan was abducted by the suspects commanded and directed by officers of the 47th IB which is operating in Southern Negros and part of Central Negros abducted Benny Catipan was able to escape from his safehouse-informal-detention center because the key to his handcuff attached to the chain which held him was on and left when he would be eating his meals and the soldiers usually unchain him.

One time at a still unspecified date during his detention as if he were an animal, he unlocked his handcuff attached to the chain, and escaped from 47th IB illegal detention safehouse.

During the time he was chained and subjected to intense tactical interrogation, the soldiers repeatedly asked him where the rebels, the NPAs "camp" was located. But he also repeatedly denied he knew its location because he simply did not know.

Catipan then proceeded to his house in Bunsad, Buenavista Village to inform his family he had escaped and since then has gone into hiding, Gelle said.

Today, sectoral groups including KM-Negros along with the human rights alliance, Karapatan-Negros will carry out a Factfinding Mission (FFM) to formally determine Catipan’s abduction case including several other complaints of human rights violations in Southern Negros and parts of Central Negros, Gelle added.

Meanwhile, Gelle announced that they are on the way to consolidating and strengthening KMP-Negros which formally held an assembly last week with over 100 farmers all over the island in attendance.

Aside from his elected secretary-general, others chosen by the assembly were Emmanuel Correjado, KMP-Negros chair; Alex Agraviador, vice-chairman; Nancy Vingno, treasurer, Rodrigo Herrere, auditor while a council with representatives from various chapters island-wide and in various districts were also chosen. Two were chosen from the Bago-Murcia district; La Castellana and Magallona towns, including Himamaylan City, two for the far south district and Northern Negros; two from Negros Oriental representing Dumaguete City and Guihulngan town and who come from the farmer’s group, KAUGMAON.

The assembly also approved resolutions against landgrabbing and for the implementation of a genuine agrarian reform program with a House of Representatives bill, number 252 now pending, Gelle declared.*


http://ndb-online.com/050514/local-news/local-news-farmer-%E2%80%98abducted%E2%80%99-soldiers-escapes