CDI stand sought on alleged violation of GMA human rights

MANILA, Philippines - The camp of Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has urged international political group Centrist Democrat International (CDI) to make a stand on the alleged human rights violation by the government against the former leader.

Arroyo’s lawyer Ferdinand Topacio yesterday said that Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman wrote the CDI, asking the group to issue an opinion on the alleged oppression of the former president.

“There’s nothing wrong with that because I think international opinion will count on the human and civil rights violation against the former president,’’ Topacio told reporters in a briefing at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City.

He added that several members of CDI, particularly its parliament members in Europe, “are in power.”

When asked what kind of help Arroyo’s camp is asking from CDI, Topacio answered: “Whatever they think might be appropriate.”

Arroyo is president of Lakas-Kampi-CMD party, a member of the international political group. Lagman is the party’s vice president.

In a telephone interview, Lagman confirmed that they wrote CDI. He, however, declined to elaborate, saying the letter was internal among party members.

Meanwhile, a group of doctors denounced the “special treatment” being given to Arroyo, saying that human rights abuses were rampant during her term.

Dr. Geneve Rivera, secretary-general of the Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), said the Aquino administration should “impose the full force of the law in holding her accountable for her human rights abuses, which victimized many in the health sector.”

She cited the case of the so-called “Morong 43” who were “illegally arrested, tortured and imprisonment for almost a year in 2010.”

Rivera lambasted the latest pronouncements by the camp of Arroyo regarding “threats on her life.”

She said that the “plot to kill Arroyo” is being peddled so she can avoid imprisonment.

SC clears Arroyo in torture case

The Supreme Court (SC) has cleared former Arroyo in a case involving the disappearance and alleged torture of a member of militant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) in 2009.

The High Tribunal affirmed an earlier ruling of the Court of Appeals (CA) dismissing the charges filed by Noriel Rodriguez against Arroyo, two police officers and six others for lack of evidence.

Aside from Arroyo, also cleared of the charges were Chief Superintendent Ameto Tolentino and Senior Superintendent Jude Santos, George Palacpac, a certain Calog, and Antonio Cruz, Aldwin Pasicolan, and Vincent Callagan, said to be representatives of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

Rodriguez told the court that on Sept. 6, 2009, he had just arrived in Barangay Tapel, Cagayan aboard a tricycle driven by Hermie Antonio Carlos when four men took him and forced him into a car.

After clearing Arroyo, the SC ordered the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to determine the possible liability of the other respondents — former Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado, former Philippine National Police chief Jesus Verzosa, ex-AFP chief Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit, and military officers Maj. Gen. Nestor Ochoa, Brig. Gen. Remegio de Vera, 1st Lt. Ryan Matutina, and Lt. Col. Laurence Mina. - Edu Punay, Sheila Crisostomo