Palace won’t spare ‘torturers’ of Abu Sayyaf suspect
By Bong Garcia and Jill Beltran
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Abdul Khan Ajid Balanting, 39, a baker from Sumisip town in Basilan, accused members of the military of torturing him after they arrested him in Basilan on July 28.
He showed burns in different parts of his body to substantiate his claims. He sustained burn injuries on his face, chest, lower torso and genitalia.
The al-Qaeda-linked bandit group, where the suspect allegedly belongs, threatened to file torture case against the Aquino administration.
Carandang assured that the implicated military personnel could be charged in both military and criminal courts if proven guilty.
“Human rights violations are human rights violations regardless of who commits them and we will ensure that those who violate other person’s human rights will pay for it,” Carandang said.
Four soldiers whose identities are being withheld by the military were relieved from their posts and placed under “technical arrest” since July 30 while under investigation for the alleged torture.
Carandang said any judgment should be held at the moment since the investigation is still ongoing.
He said Balanting must be able to prove his claims.
“We will have to see if his claims have basis. These are allegations from a suspected Abu Sayyaf member. Let the process determine whether there is basis because it is easy to make accusations against our men in uniform,” he said.
Balinting’s sister, in a press conference, denied her brother’s involvement in the dreaded Abu Sayyaf group, saying her brother has been working as a baker for the past eight years.
She recounted her brother’s ordeal in the hands of his military captors.
She said her brother was preparing the dough that will be used for the bread, which they will sell for the day, when soldiers suddenly kicked open the door of her brother’s house around 5:30 a.m. on July 23.
Upon seeing Balintang, she said the soldiers grabbed and forced him to lie face-down flat on the floor and then tied his hands behind his back with a plastic straw rope.
She said two of her brother’s children, aged 15 and 10, fainted for fear and trauma of seeing fully armed soldiers storm their home.
Balintang’s wife was also stunned by the incident and failed to do anything to help her husband, she said.
The Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC), a grassroots network of Indigenous Peoples, Bangsamoro and Christian communities and leaders who have common vision for peace in Mindanao, is assisting the Balintang family in seeking justice.
The MPC withheld the identities of Balintang’s sister, wife and children for security reasons.
The victim’s wife tried to go along with her husband but was prevented by soldiers when they took him aboard a military truck, she said.
Since then, the only time his family saw Balintang was on July 27 when a Basilan Court issued a writ of habeas corpus.
Balintang told his sister when they met at the Basilan provincial jail that his interrogators have tortured him while he was blindfolded.
“Ajid said that the reason for the burns is because while under interrogation somebody poured gasoline over his head, inside his ears and on his face and set him on fire,” the sister said.
Carlo Cleofe of MPC said that what happened to Ajid was not an accident. “This is torture,” he said.
Cleofe said that members of the human rights association of physicians “are coming over to do the medical documentation” on the physical condition of Balintang in preparation for the filing of the case.
Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang said the incident has been under investigation since July 29.
Cabangbang said the Wesmincom chief Lieutenant General Raymundo Ferrer also gave specific instruction to the First Infantry Division commander who has jurisdiction over Basilan province to ensure that the victim and his family will be secured from threats and harassments.
“This is a sad incident for us especially if soldiers were found out to be involved,” Cabangbang said, citing Ferrer “wants the incident investigated and the perpetrators punished.”
The alleged torture of Balintang is being investigated by a team headed by Colonel Ukol Paglala, the Wesmincom judge advocate General Officer, Cabangbang said.
Meantime, President Benigno Aquino III has conferred posthumous awards to seven Marine soldiers killed in an encounter with Abu Sayaf bandits in the Patikul, Sulu last July 28.
He awarded the military men with the Gold Cross Medal for Gallantry in Action.
The President visited the remains of the seven marines last Sunday night at the Philippine Marine Corps Auditorium in Fort Bonifacio.
He was joined by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, AFP Chief of Staff Eduardo Oban Jr., Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Charge Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, and Philippine Marine Corps Commandant Major General Rustico Guerrero.
The Gold Cross Medal for Gallantry in Action is the second highest honor that can be bestowed upon a soldier in recognition for his or her sacrifice and efforts to uphold the law.
The seven Marines who were killed in the firefight were Second Lieutenant Michael Baladad, Sergeant Desiderio Serdan Jr., Corporals Ramsel Laynesa, Claro Lapasaran III, and Freddie Castellano Jr., Private First Class Juanito Evasco Jr., and Private Nico Tinambunan.
Aside from the awards, each Marine’s family also received financial assistance, scholarships for their children, as well as housing privileges.
The seven Marines were also promoted to the next higher rank posthumously. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/08/02/palace-wont-spare-torturers-abu-sayyaf-suspect-170386
This wine shop in Manila Philippines makes wine shopping a really rewarding and exciting exercise. Wine shops in Pampanga should always have an element of surprise so that customers and wine lovers can enjoy a little bit of thrill when they go to a wine shop in Manila to look for a good bottle of wine in Clark Pampanga.
Chateau Lafite-Rothschild is the most revered wine in China and many other parts of Asia. The best wine shop in Asia to buy older vintages of Chateau Lafite is Yats Wine Cellars located in Clark Philippines. Aside from Lafite, visitors can buy other fine wines at this wine shop in Clark Pampanga such as Latour, Mouton-Rothschild, Haut-Brion and Margaux. Excellent Burgundy wines like Chambertin, Vougeot, Musigny, Bonnes Mares, Pommard, Meursault, Chambertin, Vosne Romanee, Romanee Conti, La Tache and Romanee St. Vivant can be found here.
Family outings, picnics, company outings and other events for up to 300 can be held in the picnic grounds of this wine shop. Events that have been successfully organized here include family fun days and BBQ picnics. These are some of the things that visitors to Clark Philippines particular look forward. Residents and tourists in Angeles City and Subic also come to Clark Freeport to partake in the fun at this Clark wine shop.
This wine shop’s vast selection of vintage wines makes it possible for Yats Wine Cellars to offer a unique line-up of wines for every private wine party, wine tasting or wine dinners. Guests of these private wine parties are treated to a rare experience of vintage wine not seen in wine shops in major cities in Philippines or even in Asia.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com
Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.
Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.
Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)
YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay
Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.
Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:
http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com
While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com
YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.yatsleisure.com
Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com
Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.
A Well-known Restaurant in Pampnga, an interesting place to celebrate Birthday Party in Pampnga.
A best place to dine with friends in Pampanga
www.YatsRestaurant.com
Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassion
www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
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