US colonel's killer receives P40,000 as HR compensation

MANILA, Philippines - The convicted killer of US Col. James Rowe yesterday received the P40,000 compensation check on behalf of his brother, a human rights victim during martial law.

Juanito Itaas, who has been in jail for over two decades, received the check from Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chair Etta Rosales inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

Itaas received the check on behalf of his brother Alberto, who, like the other beneficiaries, was a desaparecido (victim of involuntarily disappearance) during the rule of former President Ferdinand Marcos.

During the ceremony, Itaas wore an orange shirt printed that bore the message “Ikinararangal Kong Maging Isang Bilanggong Pulitikal” (I’m proud to be a political detainee). Militant groups regard him as a political prisoner.

“Since Itaas himself cannot leave prison to receive the check, attorney (Rod) Domingo has come to the New Bilibid Prison to give the check to Juanito Itaas and the CHR has happily accompanied him, along with representatives of human rights organizations,” Rosales said.

The check was disbursed as part of the compensation judgment ordered by the US District Court in Hawaii after some 7,526 martial law victims won their case against the Marcos estate in 1992.

Domingo was the victims’ legal counsel during the litigation in Hawaii.

“The amount represented by the check is small but its value in terms of justice for a victim of human rights violation under the Marcos dictatorship is immeasurable,” said Rosales. “The check for his brother provides some closure to the loss suffered by his surviving family members and the long wait for the enforcement of the 1992 judgment, albeit partial.”

Itaas said he is happy to receive the symbolic check, which he handed to his wife Glenda. He said they will use it for their sari-sari store inside Katarungan Village in Muntinlupa.

“But I would be happier if they would finally release me,” he said.

Itaas was arrested in 1989 and was later convicted for the killing of Col. Rowe of the Joint United States Military Group in April that year. Rowe was active in the anti-insurgency operations in the late 1980s.

He also expressed hope that the present administration would look into his case since he has been detained for 22 years now.

Itaas, together with his co-accused Donato Continente, was only sentenced to a maximum of 16 years in prison.

Rosales acknowledged that the United States may have a hand in the continued detention of Itaas, even as she appealed for a review of the case.

Militants want detained rebels released

Meanwhile, militant groups yesterday started a nine-day symbolic fasting as they called for the release of suspected communist rebels facing criminal raps.

Angie Ipong, secretary-general of Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA), said the fasting would be conducted until Sept. 21, anniversary of the declaration of martial law.

The fasting would be held from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. by activists and about 360 detainees nationwide who claim to be political prisoners.

About 40 activists from SELDA, human rights group Karapatan, Gabriela and Bayan yesterday held a picket in front of Camp Crame in Quezon City where four suspected rebels are detained.

Clad in orange t-shirts, the activists called on the government to grant general and unconditional amnesty to political detainees.

“Among the notorious legacies of the Marcos dictatorship were the illegal arrest and detention of political prisoners who fought against the corrupt and repressive regime,” Ipong said.

She claimed that 77 political prisoners have been arrested illegally under the Aquino regime. She said the detainees were arrested on suspicion that they are communist rebels.

Marie Enrique, chair of Karapatan, said the Aquino administration should respect human rights and comply with the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

Under the JASIG, communists who are working as peace consultants enjoy immunity from arrest.

“We don’t understand what the government is waiting for when clearly all the political prisoners – especially the sick, elderly, the women and those covered by the JASIG – should have been released earlier,” Enrique said.

She said the detainees were jailed for their political beliefs and were falsely charged with common crimes.

Armed Forces public affairs chief Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. denied that the military condones human rights violations, adding that suspected rebels should face the charges filed against them.

Ipong said they are hopeful that the peace process between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) would move forward.

The government has accused the NDF of slowing down the talks by demanding the release of their alleged consultants before proceeding to discussions on important reforms.

Government chief negotiator Alexander Padilla has said there is no way to verify the claim of NDF that the people it wants released are covered by the JASIG.

He said an effort to validate the identities of people whom the NDF claims are covered by JASIG has failed because the rebels have not provided photographs.

The NDF, however, said the government is scuttling the talks by refusing to free prisoners working as peace consultants.

The NDF said the release of its alleged consultants, including suspected key officials of the communist armed wing New People’s Army, is required by the JASIG.

The government and the NDF panels have agreed to resume formal negotiations next month. – Alexis Romero