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The police informed<br />
the victim’s<br />
colleagues they<br />
were following up<br />
on the case but did<br />
nothing to promptly<br />
assist them in<br />
locating the victim’s<br />
whereabouts.<br />
“<br />
”<br />
132<br />
At 11am on 6 June 2007, Cardiño was on his way to his office.<br />
A white van suddenly blocked the motorcycle rickshaw he was<br />
riding at an intersection in Barrio Dos, in Koronadal City.<br />
Five men emerged from the vehicle and forcibly dragged him<br />
into their van. Two witnesses described the alleged perpetrators as<br />
having short military-like haircuts while another one was wearing<br />
a black, long sleeve jacket marked with “POLICE” on the back.<br />
The vehicle, a mitsubishi L-300 van model, was last seen going<br />
towards the direction of general Santos City.<br />
After learning of the incident, the victim’s colleagues went<br />
to the Police Regional Office (PRO 12) of the PNP in Barangay<br />
Tambler, general Santos City. The police informed them that<br />
they were aware of Cardiño’s abduction but denied holding him<br />
in their custody. The victim’s colleagues then went to the police<br />
headquarters asking for his whereabouts. This is because in the<br />
past some persons who were reported missing have later been<br />
found to be in police custody.<br />
The police informed the victim’s colleagues they were following<br />
up on the case but did nothing to promptly assist them in locating<br />
the victim’s whereabouts. neither did they show any willingness<br />
to cooperate with them. It is extremely difficult for local activists<br />
to obtain adequate police assistance because some of them, in<br />
particular in this area, have had long held grudges against local<br />
activists critical of them.<br />
Two days later, at 11am on June 8, Cardiño was released<br />
near his house in Barangay new Panganisan, Koronadal City.<br />
he was met by his family at a hospital after he surfaced. A local<br />
politician and a priest were able to rescue Cardiño, reportedly<br />
after a negotiation for his release and have placed him under<br />
their protective custody.<br />
Cardiño was barefoot, completely exhausted and unable to<br />
talk. he was still in a state of shock. The physicians evaluating<br />
his health condition ordered him to take a complete rest. Cardiño<br />
appeared to have been deprived of food and sleep during his two<br />
days in captivity.<br />
Prior to this incident, Cardiño had reported to a human rights<br />
group, Karapatan, about suspicious movement of vehicles passing<br />
in front of their office. He believed they were overtly spying on<br />
them. On march 23, Cardiño noticed a light blue car that stopped<br />
in front of their office at 11:20am. One of the people in the car<br />
leaped out and took photographs of him.<br />
Story 72: Killing of two peasants and wounding of six<br />
others in a violent attack<br />
Victims:<br />
1. Alejandro Garcesa, 70<br />
2. Ely Tupas, 52<br />
3. Jude Capitania, 32<br />
4. Jobert Malayas, 25<br />
article 2 � June-Sept 2012 Vol. 11, No. 2-3
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