Murder Case vs. Ladlad, Other Activists Evokes Memories of Martial Law

“This is a revival of martial law years. It’s sickening,” an obviously irate Sen. Joker Arroyo blurted out during a recent hearing on the murder charges against activist Vicente Ladlad.

BY RONALYN V. OLEA
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Bulatlat

“This is a revival of martial law years. It’s sickening,” an obviously irate Sen. Joker Arroyo blurted out during a recent hearing on the murder charges against activist Vicente Ladlad.

Ladlad is among the 50 activists charged with 15 counts of multiple murder for allegedly ordering the   purging of suspected government spies within the ranks of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in 1985.  Among his co-accused are Randall Echanis, deputy secretary general for external affairs of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP of Peasant Movement of the Philippines) and Bayan Muna (People First) Representative Satur Ocampo.

Arroyo was cross-examined by the Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecution February 26 at the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32 before Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina.  Earlier, on February 13, Arroyo testified that he acted as counsel for the accused Ladlad when the latter was detained from 1983 to 1986 in Camp Nakar in Lucena City, Quezon.

The case is based on the allegation that a mass grave containing the remains of victims of an alleged CPP purge was discovered in Inopacan Leyte.  Judge Ephrem Abando of Branch 18, Hilongos, Leyte first handled the case. He issued a warrant of arrest against the accused on March 6, 2007..

Eventually, the hearing of the said case was transferred to the Manila RTC.

During the cross examination, State Prosecutor Peter Ong asked Arroyo if he had personal knowledge as to where Ladlad was detained and whether he saw Ladlad after their first meeting on March 24, 1984.

Arroyo replied, “The military had been hiding him from me. I went from one camp to another [looking for him.]”

Ong told Arroyo, “[So ] you would not be in the position to know what he was doing.”

Arroyo said, “I was not his handler, it was the military.”

Arroyo added, “The military kept Ladlad as shown in the transcript in the Lucena proceedings. I argued then that he should be given bail.” Ladlad was then charged with murder and conspiracy to commit rebellion.

Arroyo continued, “Then there was the PCO [Presidential Commitment Order]…Ladlad would not be anywhere because of that PCO…Nobody could intervene. Nobody could touch him. Nobody could release him, the military authorities had him.”

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