FINAL REPORT - Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

13. For the duration of our stay and to ensure our safety, Atty. Ong,
Bishop Bacani and Lito were the only persons allowed inside our
room. We were, however, free to go wherever we wanted. Thus, I
would periodically go downstairs to the kitchen and get food for Jeff and
me. Downstairs, I conversed several times with Ate Demy, who was the
seminary cook, and with Bishop Bacani's driver. Contrary to the sworn
statements which Jeff and I were made to sign, Atty. Ong had no
other men in the compound except for Lito, and at no time were our
movements restricted nor were we ever prevented from leaving our
room. In fact, Jeff had his gun with him. We were also free to
communicate with the outside, as in fact we did, as we had our
cellular phones with us at all times;
14. It is also not true that our movements were closely monitored
and guarded, nor we followed by armed men even to the extent of
accompanying us to the comfort room. The truth is that the comfort
rooms were inside the rooms which we occupied; hence, it would not have
been possible for anyone to accompany us there. The only guards I saw
were downstairs and were sent there to ensure our safety:
15. On Monday, June 13, 2005, between 10:30 - 11 :00 a.m., Jeff
received a call from his wife Arlene on his cellular phone, which
conversation I heard, as Jeff's speakerphone was on. I heard Arlene
say, "Dad, kung itutuloy mo iyan, kalimutan mo na kaming pamilya
mo. Di bale na ako, pero isipin mo yung mga bata." Immediately
after that conversation, Jeff looked troubled and told me that his
wife and children were taken by the ISAFP from Kidapawan City in
North Catabato and were being held in Manila as leverage to try and
persuade him to go with them. Jeff then said that he had to leave the
seminary soon, as his children were in danger. He asked if I could stay
behind, to which I replied, "Anong gagawin ko dito?;"
16. A short while later, Bishop Bacani entered our room and asked if Jeff
and I were married, as he had heard a woman over the radio, claiming to
be Jeff's wife and asking him to surrender to the ISAFP. Jeff and I
answered that we were not married, to which Bishop Bacani replied.
"Naku, mai-iskandalo ang mga pari niyan." He then asked if it was true
that we were kidnapped we answered that we were not. Ang sabi ko
pa, "Nandito po kami para proteksyonan kami. Nanganganib po kasi
ang buhay namin" Bishop Bacani then said that it was not proper for an
unmarried couple to be in the seminary, and brought me to the seminary
kitchen where he said, "Makipag-kwentuhan ka muna diyan."
Bishop Teodoro Bacani
As earlier mentioned, Bishop Teodoro Bacani likewise submitted a sworn
statement to the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security chaired by
Senator Biazon, confirming Ong’s story regarding their having sought sanctuary at the
San Carlos Seminary, through his (Bishop Bacani’s) help, together with Doble,
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