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PRESS STATEMENT NO.
07-00-01
December 7, 2007
Undersecretary RICARDO R. BLANCAFLOR expressed strong
reaction to the statement of the human rights group
Karapatan that not a single suspect in the unexplained
killings and enforced disappearances cases, now more
commonly known as extrajudicial killings cases, has ever
been convicted. Usec. Blancaflor was named last week by
Malacañang as head of the Task Force on Political
Violence created under Administrative Order No. 211 of
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo dated November 22,
2007,
Citing records
gathered by the Task Force, Usec. Blancaflor said that
at least eight (8) persons have been convicted and sent
to prison involving six (6) different cases of murder
committed mostly against members of the media. More
particularly, these convicts are as follows: (1) JOSE
ESPINELI a.k.a. “Danny”, who was convicted by the
Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Imus, Cavite for the
murder of DZMM deskman Alberto Berbon; (2) GERARDO
TOCANA , convicted by RTC Bacolod City for the murder of
Frank Palma, Bombo Radyo reporter; (3) PO3 GUILLERMO
WAPILI, who was sentenced to reclusion perpetua
by the RTC of Cebu City for the murder in May 2002 of
Edgar Damalerio, radio commentator of DXKP; (4)
ESTANISLAO BISMANOS, (5) GERRY CABAYAG, and (6) RANDY
GRECIA, who were convicted in October 2006 by the RTC
Cebu City for the murder in March 2005 of The Midland
Review columnist Marlene Esperat; (7) EDGAR BELANDRES,
convicted by RTC Cebu City for the murder in November
2004 of Allan Dizon, photographer of The Freeman; and
(8) GERRY SARABIA, who was convicted by RTC Ozamis City
for the murder of Nesimo Toling.
Usec.
Blancaflor likewise noted that Karapatan’s statement
that there are 887 cases of unexplained killings, is
highly exaggerated, the truth of the matter being that
as per records of PNP’s Task Force Usig, there are only
141 cases nationwide, only 114 of which involve party
list members or leftist activists.
Nevertheless, Usec. Blancaflor welcomes Karapatan to
join the efforts of the Task Force in threshing out
these discrepancies. Most importantly, he invites the
group to participate and cooperate with the government
in a more pro-active level in addressing this issue on
extrajudicial killings, like for instance in jointly and
religiously monitoring the progress of pending cases
nationwide so as to have a common account of such cases
and thus provide a more reliable and transparent
reporting to the public. He cites for this matter
Section 4 of AO 211 which directs the Task Force to
coordinate and work with the private sector, the NGO’s
in particular, in achieving its mandate.
Usec.
Blancaflor can be contacted at Room 207, Department of
Justice, Padre Faura, Manila, or at telephone numbers
523-8481 loc. 206 and 524-6763.
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