Morong 43 health workers deplores GMA and her Military cohorts’ Delaying Tactics

“Render Swift Justice, Convict GMA and her military cohorts for their human rights abuses!”

This remains the battle cry of the Morong 43 in their pre-trial conference today at the Branch 96 of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court for the Civil Case No. Q-11-69171. Amidst dilatory tactics by the defendants to delay the trial of the civil case, the group reiterated calls for Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her top military and police officials’ conviction on the rights abuses they committed against the Morong 43 health workers in 2010.

On January 24, 2013 lawyers of GMA et.al submitted petition seeking for the court’s suspension of the pre-trial conference. In a related case, the defendants filed a petition to stop the hearing of the criminal case filed by the Morong 43 at the Ombudsman citing as reason the on-going civil case filed at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court. Both petitions were denied.

“We are aghast with GMA and her cohorts’ legal manoeuvring to delay our quest for justice. Unfailingly, they have been filing motions after motions, petitions after petitions to derail the trial process . It has been nearly two years since we filed the civil case in April 2011 and until now, the case is still in its pre-trial stage,” laments Dr. Alex Montes, one of the Morong 43 and plaintiffs in the P15 million civil suit against the former president.

The Morong 43 through their lawyers will submit for the pre-trial conference their brief statement of claims and defenses, affidavits and documentary evidence.

“We want GMA and her cohorts to pay for their human rights abuses. We hope that formal hearings for the case will commence after today’s pre-trial meeting. We call on Judge Afable Cajigal and the Ombudsman to resist the delaying tactics being employed by the defendants to derail the trial,” said Dr. Montes. “We remain resolute to push on with this case until we claim justice for ourselves and other victims of human rights abuses,” added Dr. Montes. ###

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The Justice for Morong 43, Justice for All Victims of Human Rights Violations holds support picket during the preliminary trial conference of the Civil Case No. Q-11 69191 against GMA et al.
The group denounces GMA group's dilatory tactics and calls for a speedy resolution of the case.

Morong 43: Inangilan ang Delaying Tactics ni GMA at mga Alipores na Militar

“Tiyakin ang mabilis na Hustisya, Panagutin sina GMA at mga alipores na militar sa pag-abuso sa karapatang pantao!”

Ito ang nananating sigaw ng Morong 43 sa pre-trial conference na nakatakda ngayong araw sa Branch 96 ng Quezon City Regional Trial Court para sa isinampang Civil Case No. Q-11-69171. Sa harap ng mga taktika para patagalin ang paglilitis ng kasong sibil, muling inihahayag ng grupo ang panawagan nitong panagutan si Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at ang kanyang mataas na opisyal ng pulis at militar sa mga pag-abuso sa mga karapatan ng mga manggagawang pangkalusugan noong 2010.

Noong Enero 24, 2013 nagsumite ng petisyon sa korte ang mga abugado ni GMA et al para suspendihin ang pre-trial conference. Sa kaugnay na kaso, ang mga nasasakdal ay naghain rin ng petition para ipahinto ang pagdinig sa kasong kriminal na isinampa ng Morong 43 sa Ombudsman sa kadahilanang mayroon pa raw kasong sibil na kasalukuyang nakasampa sa Quezon City Regional Trial Court. Ang parehong petisyon ay tinanggihan ng korte at Ombudsman.

“Namumuhi kami sa pagmamaniobra ni GMA at ng kanyang mga alipores para harangin ang aming paghahanap ng hustisya. Walang palya ang kanilang pagsasampa ng mosyon at petisyon upang patagalin ang proseso ng paglilitis. Magdadalawang taon mula noong isampa naming ang kasong sibil noong Abril 2011 at magpahanggang ngayon ang kaso ay nanatiling nasa pre-trial stage pa rin,” paghihinagpis ni Dr. Alex Montes, isa sa Morong 43 na nagsampa ng P15 milyong kasong sibil laban sa dating pangulo.

Nakatakdang isumite ng Morong 43 para sa pre-trial conference ang kanilang maikling pahayag tungkol sa claim at depensa, affidavit at mga ebidensya.

“Nais naming managot sina GMA sa pag-abuso nila sa karapatang pantao. Umaasa kami na magtutuluy-tuloy na ang paglilitis matapos ang pre-trial meeting ngayong araw. Nanawagan kami kay Judge Afable Cajigal at sa Ombudsman na tanggihan ang mga ginagawang delaying tactics ng mga nasasasakdal para patagalin ang kaso.” saad niDr. Montes.

“Mananatili kaming matatag sa pagsuluong ng kasong ito hanggang sa makamtan namin ang hustisya para sa aming sarili at para sa lahat ng mga biktima ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao,” dagdag ni Dr. Montes. ###

Reference:

Dr. Alex S. Montes
0927-9259413 | 929-8109