Lawyer insists Morong 43 not rebels

Lawyer Edre Olalia made the statement reacting to reports that a certain Ramon dela Cruz, who was killed during a recent encounter, was a member of the health workers' group.

 

"They now claim that one of those killed in an encounter weeks ago was in fact a former member of the Morong 43 who were illegally arrested, searched, detained and tortured more than three years ago. 

 

"It now claims that most of our clients 'have returned to the hills' even as it concedes that a number of them have 'continued' to be members of 'progressive organizations,'" Olalia said.

 

He said that being a member of the New People's Army does not give the right to government forces to torture their captives.

 

"And what if he was? On the supposition which cannot be independently established that he became an NPA after he was released , as far as his basic human rights were concerned , so what? While we as lawyers are absolutely positive that our clients were not members of the NPA at the time the incident of illegal arrest happened, we are not privy into the minds and daily lives of each and every single clients of ours after our legal engagement. We are incompetent and would be pretentious to judge them in whatever choices or options they subsequently take," Olalia added.

 

The group has a pending civil suit before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her ex-military military officials, some of whom have been promoted in the service.