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Now that he is a civilian, former military chief Hermogenes Esperon
Jr. may end up facing a series of charges from the spouses of the
detained soldiers who were charged with rebellion.
During the hearing of the House Committee on
Human Rights chaired by Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada 3rd, congressmen
assured the spouses of the detained soldiers that they will conduct
an ocular inspection in all the places where their husbands are
being detained, including those housing Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and
Col. Ariel Querubin.
The hearing was attended by the wives and
relatives of the detained soldiers along with Commission on Human
Rights Chairperson Leila de Lima.
De Lima said the revelations made by the wives
of the detained soldiers such as the latter being handcuffed and
blindfolded, and not allowing them to see their families is an
inhuman act. The spouses complained that they cannot see their
husbands from time to time since the detained soldiers are
transferred from one place to another.
“Potentially there are possible violations,”
de Lima said.
De Lima said that if the members of the family
of the detained soldiers have evidence, then they can file the
necessary charges against Esperon.
Manila Rep. Benny Abante said that it is about
time that Esperon shall be held accountable to the people for the
human rights violations he is accused of, especially now that he is
a civilian. These would include civil, administrative and criminal
charges.
Flor, the wife of Querubin, said they will press
charges against Esperon in due time. The spouses claimed they could
not press charges against Esperon when he was still military chief,
because he could make it hard for them to see their detained
husbands.
Among the areas that shall be inspected by the
lawmakers and the rights commission are the detention centers of the
military’s intelligence group and the ones in Tanay and Camp Crame.
-- Jomar Canlas
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