AFP must free abducted Matuguinao farmer – Sagupa-SB

Press Release
By SAGUPA-SB
November 2, 2006

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Samahan han Gudti nga Parag-uma ha Sinirangan Bisayas (SAGUPA-SB) condemns the abduction of a farmer in Matuguinao, Samar by elements of the 34th Infantry Battalion and a CAFGU member last October 24, 2006.

Oje Opiniano, 24, a resident of a remote barangay in Matuguinao, Samar was reportedly taken by a group of soldiers with PFC Neil Molabola, PFC Mario Tamayo and Boboy dela Cruz, a CAFGU member, to the military camp at around eight o’ clock. According to his father, Yoyong Opiniano, Oje was taken for no clear reason. Up to this date, however, Oje has not come home.

SAGUPA-SB condemns this act by the military and said that the AFP has once again failed the people in observing the respect for human rights. Diana Ragub, Campaign and Advocacy Officer of the peasant group said that “the AFP proved itself to be ignorant of the law and has once more mocked the Philippine justice system which it ought to uphold in the first place.”

“This is evidence that the very institution which is tasked by our Constitution to protect the life, limb and property of the people especially our destitute farmers, are the ones who trample upon our rights. They do not have any right to detain a person beyond a certain period without clear justification that he committed something unlawful or without charging him for an offense punishable by special penal laws or by the Revised Penal Code,” said Ragub.

“It is unfortunate that such incidents are happening, especially around this time that farmers get themselves busy with harvesting their crops. October is also the Peasant Month so we do not find any reason to celebrate such occasion now that another farmer has fallen to the hands of the real terrorists – those in uniform and paid from the people’s coffers,” Ragub said.