Talisay 3

On November 23, 2009 Charity M. Diňo, Sonny Rogelio and Billie Batrina were all enthusiastically going about with their daily routine and inviting farmers to their celebration of the “Linggo ng Maralita”(Week of the Poor). While doing the said things, they were abducted by the elements of the 730^thCombat Group of the Philippine Air Force. The three said persons are all volunteer peasant farmer organizers of the SAMBAT (Samahan ng Magbubukid ng Batangas).(Organization of Batangas Farmers.

They were abducted, while walking at Brgy. Zone III in Talisay, Batangas, by armed men who wore civilian clothes. Guns were pointed at the three of them and they were forced to go inside a vehicle. While inside the vehicle, they were handcuffed, blindfolded and tortured.

While being interrogated, the interrogators placed bullets in between Charity’s fingers, aside from this she was also stripped naked and made fun of as the interrogators looked for a tattoo in her back side. A packaging tape was also placed on her nose making it hard for her to breathe. Her head was also repeatedly banged on the wall or struck with a piece of metal. They hit her breasts, dragged her on the grass, a gun was pointed at her and they even threatened her that they would eventually kill her.

Sonny, on the other hand, was punched in the chest and face repeatedly and he was also electrocuted in the feet. Billie was also punched in the sides of his body, made to drink water with soap soaked in it and he was also electrocuted in the body and in between the thighs.

This kind of interrogation continued for the whole duration of their stay at the camp of the 730^thCombat Group of the Philippine Air Force at Brgy. Bilaran, Nasugbu, Batangas. They were detained there for more than 17 days. They were then accused of being members of the New People’s Army and they were charged with the Illegal Possession of Firearms and Illegal Possession of Explosives. Their case is currently being tried at the Municipal Trial Court of Talisay and at the Regional Trial Court-Branch 6 at Tanauan City, Batangas.

The three mentioned persons are all legitimate volunteer organizers of peasant farmers under the organization SAMBAT (Samahan ng mga Magsasaka sa Batangas).