v11n0203

One of the clerks of the convenience store later recounted
that a traffic enforcer attached to the Metro Manila Development
Authority was able to recognize the perpetrators as members of
the Talaba Police, a local police unit. One of the victims, madrazo,
was released later that evening. when interviewed she recounted
that the perpetrators blindfolded her and seized her mobile phone.
They were traveling for about two hours when she asked them to
let her use a bathroom. She was told however to wait because they
were already close to their destination. Soon after they arrived,
she was led towards a toilet where her hand ties and blindfold
were removed. There she was locked inside.
After she finished using the toilet, madrazo was again
blindfolded and had her hands tied. She was led to an
airconditioned room she presumed could have been an office.
There she heard conversations of male voices speaking in native
dialects, waray and Tagalog. One of them asked: “Siya na ba?
(Is she the one?)” to which her captors replied: “Oo, siya na (yes,
it’s her)”. madrazo was asked for her name and address, which
she gave. She heard shuffling of papers and then a man spoke
to her captors telling them to let her go as she was not on their
“list”. when madrazo asked them about the whereabouts of the
Soledad couple, she was told by her captors not to ask too many
questions.
madrazo said she was again taken to another vehicle by her
captors. Again, they traveled for almost two hours before she was
released in the area of Alabang, near the metropolis mall. her
hand ties and blindfold were removed. when she asked about her
cousin, Clarita and her husband Jimmy, she was told by one of
the men: “huwag ka na makikialam at magtatanong kung ayaw
mong ibalik kita roon! (Do not meddle or ask questions if you don’t
want me to take you back there!)” Then the perpetrators sped off.
madrazo went back home to Cavite and informed Clarita’s siblings
about the incident.
On march 22, Clarita’s sister, Robisita Abenoja, was
accompanied by Karapatan to inquire with the local authorities
and the police in Cavite but there were no reports of abduction or
arrest recorded in their offices, nor was there a report on requests
for coordination with other local authorities. The local police
detachments had also no records of the said incident.
under the existing procedures, the police and military operating
outside their jurisdiction should have obtained permission or are
required to closely coordinate with the local authorities or law
enforcement agencies that have jurisdiction over the area. The
absence of information or records regarding the incident suggests
that no such coordination had been made at all.
On march 23, a Karapatan member accompanied the relatives
to the Police Regional Office (PRO IV) of the PNP in Camp Vicente
Lim, in Canlubang, Laguna to find out whether or not the Soledad
couple was in their custody. A staff member of an intelligence
division denied holding the couple.
article 2 � June-Sept 2012 Vol. 11, No. 2-3
“
Do not meddle or
ask questions if you
don’t want me to
take you back there! ”
- abductors of
victims Clarita and
her husband, Jimmy.
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