PHILIPPINES: Four men arrested and tortured in Cavite

Dear Friends, 

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to express concern regarding the arrest and torture of four men in Cavite. The victims were tied, beaten and electrocuted. They were arbitrarily arrested and forced to confess to participation in an alleged bombing. They were later charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives, and are presently detained at the Bureau of Jail Management Penology (BJMP) in Malabon, General Trias, Cavite. 

CASE DETAILS: (Based on the documentation by Katungod Lumad Alert and Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights (KARAPATAN))

On 23 November 2015, 53-year-old Jose Nayve, provincial coordinator of transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) or Nationwide transport group, heard a gunshot when he was approached by men from the village (barangay) post. Immediately after, police arrested him and forced him into a police mobile while kicking him on his back.

George Bruce, a 33-year-old passenger van driver also heard the gunshot as he was about to alight from his van to urinate. A policeman approached him and asked if he was the driver of the van. Despite George’s plea not to hurt him, the policeman ordered him to lie on the ground, tied his hands, and beat him.

Rommel Nuñez, a 30-year-old occasional construction and farmworker who was lingering in the area, and 38-year-old Armando Matres, unemployed, who was heading to his cousin’s house, were also arbitrarily arrested by the police after the latter fired a warning shot. Both Rommel and Armando were beaten and dragged into the police mobile.

All four were simultaneoulsy and arbitrarily arrested at “Peryahan” in Manggahan General Trias village. They were brought to the Manggahan police station and were subjected to torture and interrogation by several police officers in uniform, and unnamed men in civilian clothes. The four were forced to admit participation in the alleged bombing incident. Jose and George were beaten and electrocuted. The two were hit with the butt of an armalite rifle, their heads were covered with plastic and cloth that suffocated them. 

After the interrogation and torture, all four were brought to different jails and were finally detained in a cramped and unventilated cell in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Malabon, General Trias Cavite on November 27. The police charged them with malicious mischief and violation of RA 9516; illegal possession of firearms and explosives. 

SUGGESTED ACTION: 

Please write letters to the authorities listed below expressing your concern about this case.

The AHRC is also writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and has informed the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER