Maza hits sexual harassment in Morong 43 case, calls for suspension of AFP officials

"A victim under the custody of her torturers won't be able to freely speak of her ordeal if she knows that at the end of the day she will be back in their hands."

Thus said Makabayan-Nacionalista senatorial bet Liza Maza on Jane Balleta's statement today that she and the rest of the "Morong 43" were "treated well" and "under too much pressure" by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, contradicting her mother's earlier expose that she was sexually harrased while in custody at Camp Capinpin.

"She and her fellow captives should first be removed from the restrictive environment they are currently in for them to speak truthfully of the different forms of torture they were subjected to. I find it extremely disturbing to think of what the victims, most especially the women, have to go through day by day in the presence of their torturers," Maza said.

Maza, a three-term representative of Gabriela vowed to support the Morong 43 in their quest for justice. She appealed for the Court of Appeals to demand the Armed Forces of the Philippines to immediately release the 43 health workers tagged as "Morong 43" abducted and illegally detained at Camp Capinpin. Maza also called for the suspension of AFP officials headed by Brig. Gen. Jorge Segovia, Chief of the Philippine Army's 2nd Infantry Division which led the illegal
arrest and detention of the health workers, for the impartial investigation to proceed and to protect the victims from further abuse and threats.

According to Maza, aside from Segovia, under the principle of command responsibility, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and National Defense Sec. Norberto Gonzales, and AFP Chief of Staff Gen.Victor Ibrado are equally liable for the human rights violations commited with impunity.

"The Arroyo government has once again proven that it is a coddler of sexual abusers and torturers," Maza concluded. ###