of the Philippines the criminal justice system is - Article 2

to the detachment, where he was further interrogated. He wrote
a statement under duress concerning his membership with the
union and how he was treated by the military, but they did not
accept it. They instead allegedly prepared a fabricated statement
and forced Paraon to sign it.
Another victim, Herminio Zuniga, reportedly suffered trauma
and stopped speaking to his fellow workers and union members
after interrogation.
All the alleged incidents were reported to the national and
regional offices of the Commission on Human Rights, but there
had been no response by time of documentation.
Haron Abubakar Buisan: A “justifiable degree of force”
On 12 December 2005, at around 6pm Haron Abubakar Buisan
was riding on a motorcycle together with three other persons
from Maasim, Sarangani, Mindanao when policemen attached
to the General Santos City Police Office—some in plain clothes
and others wearing black jackets with “SWAT” (Special Weapons
and Army Tactics) printed on them— intercepted and arrested
them. They did not present any warrant of arrest or inform them
of any charges against them. They took the four men to their
headquarters in their service vehicle, during which time Buisan
was allegedly repeatedly kicked and severely beaten all over his
body and face with a stone.
Upon reaching the police headquarters at the Camp Fermin
G. Lira, the police released Buisan’s three companions while he
was held in custody for three days without charge. He was allegedly
tortured into admitting that he is really “Ariel Bansalao”, a man
wanted for robbery. He was later transferred to the Pendatun
Police Station.
On December 23, Buisan’s family lodged a habeas corpus
petition in court. Judge Isaac Alvero Moran of Regional Trial Court
Branch 36 reportedly denied the petition and pushed through
with the filing of robbery charges and illegal possession of firearms
against Buisan, in connection with a bus robbery in Barangay
Katangawan, General Santos City on 11 April 2005 (Criminal
Case No. 18639). The victim’s family completely denied his
involvement, claiming it is a case of wrong identity.
During the hearing, police director Senior Superintendent
Alfredo Toroctocon and Judge Moran were seen together with a
prosecution witness who reportedly had earlier suffered from a
coma and could not speak. The court may have filed the charges
against Buisan based on the witness’ facial gestures.
Buisan was remanded to the General Santos City Reformatory
Center and his family filed another petition to the court to have
him examined by an independent and private physician, which
was also denied. The police claimed that Buisan had already been
examined by a physician but refused to give evidence to the family.
They also refused to turn over his motorcycle, even though it is
unconnected with the charges he is facing and therefore not
needed as evidence.
108
VICTIM:
Haron Abubakar Buisan
INCIDENTS:
Illegal arrest; torture
ALLEGED PERPETRATORS:
Plainclothes personnel of
General Santos City Police
Office and SWAT T personnel
DATE: 12 December 2005
AHRC UA-251-2005
UP-007-2006
UP-047-2006
UP-150-2006
UP-186-2006
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