FINAL REPORT - Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

MAXIMIANO M. DE MESA, chairperson of the Philippine Alliance of Human
Rights Advocates (PAHRA) and board member of Task Force Detainees of the
Philippines (TFDP), related that upon request of the relatives of some of the victims of
the Bicutan siege, he approached the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and asked
that a thorough investigation on the case be conducted.
On 23 April 2005, CHR investigators led by CHR chief investigator Atty. Dennis
Mosquera, with Mr. De Mesa, proceeded to the district jail, but they were refused
entry. They were allowed to enter only on 29 April 2005 after a Mission Order from
CHR was shown to the jail warden. Though Mr. De mesa was not the one conducting
the interview of witnesses inside the jail, he could nevertheless hear their statements
because he was just two or three feet away from the group of CHR investigators. He
heard the witnesses belie the reports that “Commander Global” and “Commander
Robot,” suspected leaders of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), were killed during the siege.
The witnesses categorically stated that the siege was over when the two detainees were
executed.
Mr. De Mesa testified that he helped the CHR collate the testimonies of the
witnesses and prepare the report submitted to the CHR en banc. Said report
concluded that serious violations of human rights were committed during the siege. It
pointed to the specific cases of salvaging, massacre, excessive use of force, and cruel
and degrading treatment of the detainees after the siege.
Direct Responsibility and
Accountability of the Commander-in-Chief
SATUR OCAMPO, president of Bayan Muna (People First) Party-list also testified
that from 29 March 2001 to 13 November 2005, the number of documented
extrajudicial killings and summary executions of members, coordinators and leaders
of the organization he leads had reached 63. He said that the victims were not only
activists. Others belong to different sectors and come from different regions, especially
in areas where Bayan Muna has a strong following, and whose ages range from 8 to 70
years old.
Fact-finding investigations conducted by Bayan Muna show that the suspected
perpetrators come from the military, the police, paramilitary groups (such as the
CAFGU), death squads, or rebel returnees.
As a party-list representative in Congress, Mr. Ocampo has taken steps to
condemn, investigate and in general, respond to, the brutal and brazen extrajudicial
killings and other forms of human rights violations. These include, among others,
filing various resolutions fr Congress to conduct legislative inquiries; delivering
privilege speeches; leading fact-finding missions, ocular inspections, and holding
dialogues with government officials; undertaking solidarity missions; and presenting
formal opposition to the promotion of military officers with abominable human rights
record.
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