Suspected rebel leader accuses cops of torture

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines  – A suspected communist rebel leader has accused policemen of torturing him to own up to at least three major killings, including that of a brother of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco.

In a sworn statement submitted to the Regional Trial Court Branch 43 here, Lenin Canda Salas, 29, tagged as a leader of the Rebolusyonaryong Hukbo ng Bayan (RHB), said policemen allegedly tortured him for at least 18 hours as they tried to force him to admit responsibility for the killing of Tetangco’s brother Rene.

Tetangco’s brother was slain together with businessman Florencio Yap and the latter’s aide Dennis Guinto last June 3. Their bodies were found in Yap’s van abandoned in Angeles City.

Salas also alleged that his torturers tried to force him to own up to the June 7 killing of businessman Richard Olalia here as well as the May 6 murder of former provincial health officer Dr. Ernesto Santos in Lubao town.

Salas, together with four other suspected leaders of the RHB, the armed group of the Marxist-Leninist Party of the Philippines, were arrested last Aug. 3.

Senior Superintendent Wendy Rosario, chief of the Tetangco-Yap Task Force, could not be interviewed as he said in a text message that he was attending a conference at Camp Crame.