THIS refers firstly to your news report “‘Abadilla 5′ take case to victim’s family” by Julie M. Aurelio (PDI, 8/23/08, p. A4). The headline is correct. But the report is not accurate in saying that only three (Lenido Lumanog, Augusto Santos, and Rameses de Jesus) of the A5 signed the Open Letter to the Abadilla Family on 21 August 2008 at New Bilibid Prison, Muntinlupa City, while the two others (Joel de Jesus and Cesar Fortuna) did not. They actually did, by writing their names and affixing their corresponding signatures on to copies of the printed out Open Letter which was originally prepared for the first three who were assisted in this by the undersigned as counsel for Lumanog and Santos and by PAO lawyer Abraham C. Ong as new counsel for Rameses de Jesus.
Your reporter apparently based her information about the Open Letter on an electronic copy posted on the website of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) in Hong Kong. Indeed, the electronic copy reflected the Open Letter originally prepared for only the above-mentioned first three. Just the same, we are grateful for her report which calls attention to the plight of the A5 who have consistently claimed innocence for the Sparrow unit-style ambush-killing of former PC Metrocom Col. Rolando N. Abadilla on 13 June 1996.
The Open Letter itself calls the attention of the Abadilla Family to two of his personal objects (and thus familiar to them), which were taken by and recovered from a source evidently responsible for his killing, the old Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB). These were his Omega wrist watch and .45 caliber pistol, now respectively with the Court and the PNP Crime Laboratory, which the family should check out for themselves to get to the truth about who were really responsible for the murder of their loved one.
It is perhaps providential that on the day that the A5 signed the Open Letter, 21 August 2008, which is the 25th anniversary of the 21 August 1983 assassination of former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr., your newspaper started the first of an intrepid front-page two-part series by Fe Zamora which named Col. Abadilla among the core of five persons evidently behind that assassination. How uncanny this link between two assassinations, 13 years apart but both involving Col. Abadilla, first as a plotter and second as the victim. How uncanny also that the convicts in both cases have been asking the respective victim’s families to take a better closer look at certain pieces of evidence that would point to those really behind the respective assassinations. But will they take heed?
Soliman Santos Jr., Cubao, Quezon City (via e-mail)
6 Feedbacks on "Linking the Aquino and Abadilla assassinations"
De los Reyes
The notoriety of the late Col. Rolando Abadilla, Metrocom chief during Marcos time for human rights violations is well documented. It’s hardly surprising that he had long been the target of the ABB assassins for the countless deaths and torture his victims suffered in his hands. What is surprising what took them so long to do it. His fate was probably a just reward for the atrocious deeds he did to his victims.
The Abadilla Assassination interests me because I happened to pass by just minutes after the incident happened on Katipunan Avenue on June 13, 1996, and have been following it closely since. I agree the Omega watch would have probably proven the innocence of the accused but obviously it was not enough to convince the judge that the accused did not commit the murder. The case is on appeal in the Supreme Court where the last hope of the accused rests.
This reminds me of the Vizconde rape-murder case where accused Hubert Webb strongly denied participation in the crime because he was all along vacationing in California with his parents and to prove his claim he presented documentary evidence from the US Immigration which was authenticated by no less than the US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Tough luck, the judge hearing the case ignored the evidence. Also ignored was the testimony of the Philippine consul who testified on Webb’s presence in the US at the time of the crime. Webb’s last hope is with the Supreme Court where the case is on appeal since 2000.
miguel olivares
I just want to know who killed Ninoy? there were a lot of people in that plane that could shed light on this case, however it remains a mystery?
DOM
Its no mystery who killed Ninoy. Its possibly the CIA at the cockpit. Remember that the US calls the shots on the security of Taiwan putting even the 7th Fleet as a buffer. Cant they place their people on the plane? Or even drive the plane. The national interest didnt agree with just hitting Ninoy on the vest. It wont work as desired. And no one investigated properly the plane.
paz reyes
Ninoy’s assassination is a no brainer. All one needs to do is answer these questions: Who had the means [used in the killing] to do it? Who had the best motive? Who were the immediate gainers of his assassination?
I agree that many interested parties had tried to muddle the evidence, but one need only to look into the Agrava commission’s final report for the answers. It pointed to who killed Ninoy but hinted only who the ultimate masterminds were. It does not matter because the question of “Who owned the Military personnel that connived to it?” is very simple to answer.
MH
Looking into presented evidence and witness testimonies, only those escorts behind Senator Aquino could have pulled the trigger to successfully execute the assassination. There are 5 members of the boarding party belonging to two security agencies (AVSECOM & METROCOM), SGT De Mesa and Lat were at the Senator’s left and right side, two METROCOM soldiers were in the back (Forget the guy at the front). The fragments found claimed to be from a .357 magnum was actually from a standard .38/9mm or a .45 caliber bullet - and one of the METROCOM soldier at the back of the senator was issued a 9mm. Abadilla was the highest ranking officer of the PC Metrocom in the Area of Operation and it is not wrong to say that he is a very knowledgeable individual and that it took 13 years to finally cut the link to the real masterminds who may be or may have been in the highest echelons of the government and business interests (I think Nerri’s term was Oligarchy?).
BocH
Thanks for the information.
I absolutely agree with you De los Reyes.
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