v11n0203

Story 4: “I do not know what a bomb looks like”
Victim: Rahman Totoh, 34, of Barangay San Rafael, Isabela
City, presently detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and
Penology (BJMP) in Isabela City.
Alleged perpetrators: Special Action Force (SAF) of the Basilan
Police Provincial Office (BPPO) of the PNP in Isabela City
Date of incident: 28 July 2011 at 12noon
Place of incident: In a place about 30 minutes away from his
home in Barangay San Rafael, Isabela City, Basilan
AHRC-UAC-174-2011; AHRC-UAU-003-2012
Rahman Totoh, a member of the yakan tribe, was forcibly
taken by members of the SAF of the BPPO, PnP from his home.
Totoh was resting when suddenly the door of his house was kicked
open. Several persons carrying M16 rifles entered, and Totoh was
told, “huwag kang gagalaw” (do not move). One of them knocked
him down, while three others stepped on his nape and covered
his head with a balaclava.
Inside the vehicle in which he was taken, both of his ears were
repeatedly flicked. He was taken to an unknown place about 30
minutes away from his home. with his head covered, he could still
sense that he was inside a room. The torturers also wrapped the
balaclava covering his head with adhesive tape and handcuffed
him behind his back. he was interrogated about the incidents
of killing in Isabela City and forced to admit involvement in the
bombing incidents two months earlier. when he answered, “I don’t
even know what a bomb looks like”, they repeatedly punched him,
hit his chest, face, head and other parts of his body. his watch,
mobile phone and necklace were also confiscated.
his torturers were forcing him to admit to the crime as they
stepped on his nape and his feet. his handcuffs, which were
attached to a bench, were kicked several times. They also set his
moustache on fire once. For about three hours, they repeatedly
subjected him to interrogation before he was taken to the hall of
Justice. At about 4pm, he was remanded to the BJmP in Isabela
City. Later, Totoh learned that his arrest was due to a pending
arrest warrant for murder issued by the RTC of Isabela City,
Basilan; however, he had not been shown the arrest orders or
had the reason of arrest explained to him, during either his arrest
or interrogation.
In the medical examination report issued by Dr Jesus Daniel
naon mD, the physician who examined him at the general
hospital of Basilan, it is indicated that Totoh had marks of torture.
The doctor’s medical report, however, fell short as to what the
Anti-Torture Act of 2009 requires in examining the condition of
persons alleging torture.
In a letter to the PnP, the AhRC mentioned that the examination
and medical report that the doctor had released fell short to the
requirements of the Anti-Torture Law; however, in his letter to
article 2 � June-Sept 2012 Vol. 11, No. 2-3
Totoh had not
been shown the
arrest orders or
had the reason of
arrest explained
to him, during
either his arrest or
interrogation.
“
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