Despite the Supreme Court’s issue of a writ of habeas corpus, the military and the police failed to present before the Court of Appeals Friday the 43 health workers arrested on February 6 on suspicion of being members of the communist group, New People’s Army (NPA).
Col. Aurelio Balalad, representative of the military during the habeas corpus hearing told the CA that there was no time to coordinate security measures for the health worker’s transfer from Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, to Manila.
Associate Justice Normandie Pizarro said the “essence” of the writ was “immediacy,” and that the failure of the respondent military and police officers to comply with the Supreme Court’s order might set a dangerous precedent on how habeas corpus orders would be dealt with in the future.
“You are the biggest armed group in the country. That is your job. That is your problem. You have to produce the living bodies,” Pizarro told Baladad.
The First Division chaired by acting Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Portia Alino-Hormachuelos is hearing the habeas corpus case. The other member aside from Pizarro is Associate Justice Francisco Acosta.
Balalad explained that the directive issued on wednesday was received only on thursday, and that because the detainees were “high risk” setting security measures for their transport would have to take time.
The “Morong 43”—including 62-year-old Dr. Alex Montes and Dr. Merry Mia-Clamor—were taking part in a health training seminar at a rest house in Morong, Rizal, on Feb. 6 when a military and police team raided the premises and arrested them.