The health workers known as the 'Morong 43' are shown in this file photo raising clenched fists at a court hearing soon after their arrest in 2010.
(UPDATE - 10:46 a.m.) The Sandiganbayan has moved back the arraignment of military and police officers over the February 2010 arrest of 43 health workers in Morong, Rizal, supposed to take place Thursday, to late May, human rights lawyers said.
The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers said several of its members had gone to the anti-graft court to formally enter their presence as private prosecutors in the case for violation of Republic Act No. 7438, or “An Act Defining Certain Rights of Person Arrested, Detained or Under Custodial Investigation as Well as The Duties of the Arresting, Detaining and Investigating Officers, and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof,” against the officers, among them retired Army generals Jorge Segovia and Aurelio Baladad.
However, they learned that "most of the accused" had filed motions to quash the charges, which the court heard on March 24.
"Upon verification with the court, it turned out that it had already issued an order on the same date requiring the prosecution to comment within 30 days, and at the same time, cancelling today's scheduled arraignment and resetting it to May 28," the NUPL said.
It added that the complainants had not been notified of the cancellation of the arraignment.
The charges filed by the health workers, dubbed the “Morong 43,” claims they were illegally arrested, detained and tortured when the military and police raided a farm house where they had been conducting medical training.
At the time, the military and police described the health workers as communist rebels who were supposedly being trained in explosives. However, the courts eventually dropped the charges against the Morong 43 and ordered them released.
The NUPL said the arraignment would have been “significant because it sends the clear message that no matter how long time has passed and no matter how dangerous and difficult it may be, state security forces from the high to the lowly may be put on the dock to answer for violations of human rights if the victims and their supporters remain steadfast and determined.”
Despite the postponement, the group said, “We stand by our statement that the simple message is loud and clear: it is not entirely true that you can get away with rights violations with impunity just like that. And that those in whose name you perpetuated them will either abandon or forget you in time,” the lawyers’ group said.
http://interaksyon.com/article/138142/arraignment-of-military-police-officers-over-morong-43-arrests-moved-to-late-may---nupl
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