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On abduction, and torture of the Filipino-American Melissa Roxas

Armando Malinaw | 05.10.2009 11:22 | Anti-militarism | Social Struggles | Terror War | World

Torture is torture. Torture is barbaric. Torture of anyone is human rights violation. Torture of an NPA commander, member, trainee or sympathizer is still a torture. Torture will not bring the truth. A person undergoing torture may admit to anything he or she being accused of.

Melissa Roxas
Melissa Roxas

Melissa Roxas
Melissa Roxas


On other hand pictures and video are excellent evidence. The photos and video clearly shows Melissa Roxas in a New People's Army (NPA) Camp. One can conclude that she is undergoing training or that she is at least a sympathizer if not a member. She can deny many times but any unbiased observer will conclude that the person in the photos is one and the same.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5yAwNOteww

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfoXWXjCaSI

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMBMmxGknCw

Her abduction and torture is truly condemnable. However she does not have any hard evidence that it was the Philippine Military who did it. Maybe she truly believes they did. Given the past record of the Philippine Military there is a possibility they did it. But there is no evidence, no evidence at all. The rule of law and the principle of fairness dictate that anyone is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

With so many victims by the NPA, it is possible that she was abducted by militant civilian groups who armed themselves because they could not rely on the Philippine police and military to protect them. Although remote, Congressmen Alcover and Palparan theory could also be true, that she was abducted by fellow NPA. Who knows?

On other hand, by not telling the truth, the WHOLE TRUTH, and nothing but the truth, Ms Roxas credibility and the credibility of her sworn testimony have been put into question.

One thing that should be investigated further is the connection of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan or BAYAN to the New People’s Army. According to Melissa Roxas’ affidavit she applied for exposure program in the Philippines with BAYAN – USA. Bayan-USA endorsed her to Bayan-National which in turn endorsed her to Bayan-Central Luzon which toured her around towns and provinces of Central Luzon. Later she was endorsed by Bayan-Central Luzon to Bayan-Tarlac. The video showed that she ended up in an NPA training camp in Aurora Province. How and why?

We need an impartial investigation - who are the real culprit in the abduction and what is Melissa Roxas doing in an NPA camp? What is the connection of BAYAN to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New People's Army (NPA) and the National Democratic Front (NDF)? Remember the CPP and the NPA are lawless elements as far as the Philippine government is concerned. They are also declared by the US, the 27-member European Union, by Canada, Australia, etc as terrorists organizations.

Armando Malinaw
- Homepage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfoXWXjCaSI