House human rights panel to probe CL violations

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Congressmen belonging to the House of Representatives' Human Rights Committee are expected to arrive here Friday to conduct a hearing on allegations of widespread human rights violation in the region. The hearing comes days after the abduction of two militants - Nelson Balmaña and Florencia Espiritu - on separate occasions in Hermosa, Bataan. Central Luzon had been the scene of several high-profile abductions which include the cases of UP students Karen Empeno and Sherilyn Cadapan in Bulacan. Other known cases expected to be tackled Friday are the cases of Honorio Ayroso and Johnny Orcino who were abducted by suspected intelligence operatives in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija on February 9, 2002 and the cases of Joey Estriber in Aurora and Romulus Robinos in Pampanga. The case of Jason Burgos, who is widely believed to have been abducted also by military operatives, will again be brought to fore. The House committee will be led by its chairperson Lorenzo ‘Erin’ Tanada III of Quezon province and deputy chairperson Edno Joson of Nueva Ecija. It is set to take place at the Conference Hall of the Heroes Hall of the new city hall facility along the Lazatin Boulevard. The office of Rep. Satur Ocampo said this will be the fourth hearing of its kind conducted by the committee for its own documentation and investigation. The committee had already made the rounds in Southern Tagalog, Davao and Bohol. Sister Cecil Ruiz of the regional human rights group Karapatan Central Luzon said that while the HOR-CHR shall pour more effort on cases of desaparecidos (disappearances) and extra-judicial killings, the committee is also expected to give time to hear other human rights violation cases such as military harassments of civilians and even psychological warfare operations. Sister Ruiz said that this is actually the second for Central Luzon, as the first one was conducted last year at the HOR’s Mitra Hall. Families and relatives of victims and other witnesses from all the provinces of Central Luzon are expected to present affidavits to the hearing. - Wilfredo Villareal, GMANews.TV