Bulakenyo farmers to file charges against military

MALOLOS CITY – Bula­kenyo farmers who claimed to be abducted by the military but were able to escape from a Pangasinan safehouse are set to file charges against top military officials this week, a human rights advocate said.

Max De Mesa, chairman of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocate (PARHA), told The STAR the hearing from the writ of amparo filed by civil society groups in behalf of brothers Raymond and Reynaldo Manalo of San Ildefonso town was over.

“The answer of the respondents will be out next week, and whatever outcome of the court’s decision, they will file charges,” De Mesa said in an exclusive interview with The STAR after delivering a lecture on Education for Peace at the 70th founding anniversary of the University of Regina Carmeli (URC) here over the weekend.

He said that Defense Sec­retary Gilbert Teodoro and Armed Forces Chief General Hermogenes Esperon Jr., are likely to become the primary respondents.

De Mesa said that the charges maybe filed by the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) led by lawyer Jose Manuel Diokno in behalf of the brothers.

The possible charges against top military officials, De Mesa said was made possible through the issuance of the writ of amparo which means to shield in Spanish.

“The judicial activism of Chief Justice Reynato made a breakthrough, and we are happy about it,” De Mesa said regarding Puno’s issuance of the writ of amparo less than two months ago.

With regard to the Manalo brothers, he said they are under the custody of civil society and religious groups.