of the Philippines the criminal justice system is - Article 2

On May 11 the charge of murder was reduced to homicide on a
directive from Judge Aventurado. The prosecution sent the
directive to the ombudsman for comment, and it was approved by
the ombudsman. This decision and other circumstances have
led persons siding with the victims to suggest that Judge
Aventurado was colluding with the accused perpetrators. The
judge had also tried to convince the victims’ families to make a
settlement with the military, hinting that the defendants “are
willing to pay”.
Orders for the arrest of the accused were not issued until 22
November 2006. However, on December 8 when they enquired
about the arrests, they were told that the officer-in-charge was
on leave. On December 11 they were told that the warrants had
been posted to the Municipal Police office in Mawab, Compostela
Valley, which would be responsible to carry out the arrests. It is
unknown as to whether or not the warrants have actually been
served to the accused persons.
82
VICTIM: Jaime Fernando
INCIDENT: Disappearance
ALLEGED PERPETRATORS:
Unidentified military
personnel
DATE: 20 November 2006
AHRC UA-380-2006
83
VICTIM: Edgar Sabdula
INCIDENT: Disappearance
ALLEGED PERPETRATORS:
Unidentified armed men
DATE: 22 October 2006
AHRC UA-363-2006
84
VICTIM: Cadir Malaydan
INCIDENT: Disappearance
ALLEGED PERPETRATORS:
Four unidentified armed men
DATE: 19 October 2006
AHRC UA-363-2006
88
Forced disappearance
Jaime Fernando: An empty fishing boat
After midnight on 20 November 2006, unidentified members
of the military came to Wawang Atlag, Malolos, Bulacan and
gathered all men in the said village, took their pictures and left
at around 1am.
At around 2 to 2:30am, Jaime Fernando was last seen at the
Panasahan fish market, located near a military barracks. At
around 7am, his empty boat was recovered floating near the fish
market in Malolos; he has not been seen since. His disappearance
is suspected to be connected with the activities in his village of
that night.
Edgar Sabdula: Abducted from house one night
On 22 October 2006, a former member of the insurgent Moro
National Liberation Front, Edgar Sabdula (36), was forcibly
abducted in his residence in Purok 1, Uyanguren, Tigatto,
Buhangin District, Davao City. At about 12:15am, a number of
hooded perpetrators in combat shoes and armed with rifles or
machine guns barged into the house and took him from in front
of his wife and into one of three vehicles: a blue L-300 van, a
white van and a third unidentified vehicle, without plate
numbers. His whereabouts remain unknown to date.
Cadir Malaydan: Pulled into van on way home
On 19 October 2006 Cadir Malaydan was abducted and forcibly
disappeared while travelling home by motorcycle around 10:45am
with his wife, Sitti. They had noticed a green L-300 van tailing
them along Purok 1, Barangay Poblacion highway, Monkayo,
Compostela Valley, close to two adjacent police outposts. The van
overtook them and stopped further ahead. When they came close,
the van’s doors opened and four hooded men, some in military
uniforms and others in civilian clothes emerged and aimed
weapons at the couple, telling them to halt. Two were armed
article 2 • February 2007 Vol. 6, No. 1