Melissa Roxas Testifies in Philippine Congress Hearing (Full text)

PHILIPPINES (thru Vince Borneo): Melissa Roxas, read the full statement of his testimony (found below), breaking into tears many times. Ms. Roxas is in pursuit of justice not only for herself, but for all others who are still missing and who have been tortured by state security forces. She is in the custody of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

She was questioned by Reps. Lagman, Ocampo, Ilagan, Hontiveros as of this writing.

The House Committee on Human Rights held the motu propio hearing today in light of its work on the passage of the anti-torture bill and the ongoing hearings of the said Committee on the human rights violations across the country.

Roxas also said that cartographic sketches of some of her abductors and torturers have already been done and are in the custody of the CHR.

Melissa will appear before the Court of Appeals tomorrow for the hearing on her petition for a writ of amparo.

OPENING STATEMENT
BY: MELISSA ROXAS
Committee on Human Rights, House of Representatives
July 29, 2009

Good morning, honorable members of the House of Representatives, friends and human rights advocates.

I am Melissa Roxas. Thank you for allowing me to come here today to tell you of my ordeal, which is also a story of many other Filipinos who were abducted and tortured by the military.

I am a member of Habi Arts, a Filipino cultural organization based in Los Angeles . I am also a member of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan - USA .

I came to the Philippines to learn more about my roots and heritage, to know more about the plight of the impoverished Filipino people and to conduct research for my writing projects. I volunteered with Bayan in the Philippines because I feel that I can achieve my objectives more meaningfully through Bayan’s work with the communities both in the urban and rural areas. To this end, I thought I can put to better use my background on community health.

I am a writer and a poet. I am also an activist.

I have reason to believe that the Philippine military were the ones who took me and my companions, Juanito Carabeo and John Edward Jandoc, against our will on May 19. I have reason to believe that the military were the ones who handcuffed, blindfolded, beat me up, suffocated me and denied me of my rights. I have reason to believe that I was brought to a military camp for interrogation.

For six days in captivity, my captors tried to force me to admit that I'm a member of the New People's Army, accused me of being a member of the NPA and told me that it was "people like me" who are the ones who are making it difficult for the government.

Although I repeatedly invoked my right to see a lawyer, my abductors told me that I will not be able to see a lawyer and instead threatened that they can do all they wanted to do with me because they “got me clean.” They threatened me with death and accused me of so many things, especially that of being a member of the NPA. Because of the fear of more pain and I thought that dying came so slow, I told myself to just play along with whatever they tell me I am guilty of and to be back to the fold of the law, as what Dex told me their mission was.

Surprisingly, on May 25, I was released by my captors near my family’s house and instructed me to keep in touch with them; that they hope I do not harbor any ill-feelings against them because the ones who tortured me are from the “special operations group” and not from their group. I was so terrified and traumatized by this harrowing experience that as soon as I can get a flight to the US , I had to leave to reunite with my family. Although still very much afraid for my life and safety, I had to come back to testify before the Court of Appeals and other investigative bodies to obtain justice and tell the public what happened to me so that people would know and they will not allow this to happen to anyone again.

Now, other people are accusing me of being an NPA, forcing me to admit that I'm an NPA and insisting that I was abducted and tortured by the NPA.

I reiterate, I am an activist. I am not a member of the NPA.

And I have reason to believe that the Philippine military were the ones who abducted and tortured me, and held me captive for 6 days. I do not like to dignify the allegations being hurled at me now as they only echo what my abductors have been forcing me to admit during my interrogation and illegal, incommunicado detention. I have filed a petition for the writ of habeas data. I am asking the Supreme Court that all records pertaining to me including videos and photos, false and true, should be expunged and destroyed as they violate my right to privacy. I insist on that.

I can no longer count how many times I have narrated the incident and my ordeal. But I will not tire to tell the truth about what happened for I seek justice, not only for myself, but for others who have gone through the same. I seek justice, not only for what they did to me, but for other victims of human rights violations.

There are still families looking for their loved ones, and many more still missing. I hope that this august body will also look into the cases of those others still missing and those who have been killed. Thank you very much. #


NOTES ON THE COMMITTEE HEARING:


Congresspersons in attendance:

Rep. Lorenzo Tanada III, Chairperson
Rep. Satur Ocampo, Deputy Minority Leader
Rep. Liza Maza, Assistant Minority Leader
Rep. Edcel Lagman (Albay)
Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares (Bayan Muna)
Rep. Roman Romulo (Pasig)
Rep. Ruffy Biazon (Muntinlupa)
Rep. Luz Ilagan,(Gabriela Womens Party)
Rep. Rafael Mariano (Anakpawis)
Rep.Raymond Palatino (Kabataan)
Rep. Risa Hontiveros (Akbayan)


Resource Persons

Ms. Melissa Roxas, BAYAN-USA, victim of abduction and torture
Atty. Rex J.M.A. Fernandez, Counsel for Melissa Roxas
Dr. Beng Reyes, attending doctor of Ms. Roxas
Dr. Reggie Pamugas, attending doctor of Ms. Roxas
Comm. Leila de Lima (Commission on Human Rights, Chair)
Comm. Coco Quisumbing (Commission on Human Rights)
Comm. Jose Mamauag (Commission on Human Rights)
Comm. Norberto dela Cruz (Commission on Human Rights)
Comm. Victoria Cardona (Commission on Human Rights)




Also Visit My Other Blogs
| Pagod Ka Na Bang Maging si Juan? | Ordinary People, Ordinary Day |