Complainants-Witnesses’ in the Marcellana and Gumanoy Case hoping to end Preliminary Investigation

THE STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE FOR EDEN MARCELLANA

AND EDDIE GUMANOY CONTINUES!

With Master Sgt. Donald Caigas, banking on an alibi that he was in his home in Navotas from April 9, 2003 until the latter part of that month, families and supporters of martyred human rights activist Eden Marcellana and peasant leader Eddie Gumanoy are hopeful that the Prosecutors would trash Caigas’ alibi and give weight to the four Private Complainants-Witnesses’ positive identification of Caigas, that indeed he led and orchestrated their abduction and the deaths of Marcellana and Gumanoy on April 21, 2003.

After the long delaying tactics employed by the counsel of Master Sgt. Donald Caigas, and earning the ire of both the Prosecutors and members of the families of Eden Marcellana and Eddie Gumanoy, Master Sgt. Caigas surfaced last October 23, 2003 at Prosecutor Perfecto Lawrence Chua Cheng’s room to submit a 15-page affidavit and six other witnesses. This was to back his alibi that he was not in Mindoro Oriental during the time of the killing of both Marcellana and Gumanoy last April 21, 2003. Master Sgt. Caigas was escorted by no less than his #1 supporter and guardian, Col. Jovito Palparan, Jr.

The 15-page affidavit did not contain any substantial proof of his absence from Mindoro Oriental at the time of the crime. Those that were presented were clearly self-serving. That he was granted leave on April 9 by his superior via a Letter Order; that he stayed in his Navotas home and was invited to a wedding as a sponsor on April 10; that he also went to have a medical check-up at the Fort Bonifacio General Hospital in Fort Bonifacio on April 21 and that he stayed home with his family from that time on, only to report back to work on April 25.

One of the witnesses, Christine dela Cruz reiterated further her earlier statement that indeed it was Caigas whom she saw on the night of their abduction, “Make no mistake about it. I clearly saw Master Sgt. Caigas on April 21.” She said.

Today, the Plaintiffs will submit their reply affidavit to the Prosecutors at the Department of Justice. They are hoping that the ongoing preliminary investigation would finally be concluded.

“It is high time that the hearing on the case push through as the families and supporters of Eden and Eddie continue with the struggle in attaining the long delayed justice for their comrades and loved ones.” Dani Beltran, KARAPATAN, Deputy Secretary-General concluded. ###

JUSTICE FOR EDEN AND EDDIE!

JUSTICE FOR ALL HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS VICTIMS!