Rights group condemns killing of ex-political prisoners

By Juliane Judilla

Human rights group Panay Alliance Karapatan has condemned what it called the “brutal and unlawful” killing of two elderly former political prisoners in what the military claimed was an “encounter” in Barangay Coto, Lambunao, Iloilo, on the evening of Oct. 5.

Mateo Suarez, 72, and Roberto Cabales, 68, were unarmed at the time of their deaths, according to the group and initial witness accounts.

Both had previously been detained on charges that were later dismissed by the courts.

Suarez was cleared of murder and firearms possession charges in 2014, while Cabales endured abduction, torture and illegal detention in the late 1990s.

“The deliberate targeting of elderly and defenseless individuals is a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and human rights,” Panay Alliance Karapatan said in a statement.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines alleged the deaths resulted from a legitimate armed encounter while serving a warrant for rebellion against Cabales.

According to the AFP’s account, the two “fought back,” prompting government forces to return fire.

That version of events is now under scrutiny.

Community members and witnesses reported no signs of a gunfight in the area and no indication that Suarez or Cabales resisted arrest.

Human rights advocates fear this could be another case of summary execution disguised as a lawful operation.

History of persecution

Cabales was first arrested on June 11, 1999, by the Military Intelligence Group, but was released five days later after it was found that the arrest warrant did not bear his name.

Later that year, on Nov. 22, he was abducted again—this time with fellow activist Ruben Saluta—and was forcibly disappeared for several days, during which he was allegedly interrogated and threatened.

Saluta surfaced nearly a month later; Cabales reappeared after three days, reportedly due to pressure from his family and human rights workers.

Suarez, meanwhile, was imprisoned at the Capiz Rehabilitation Center from 2012 until 2014, when he was cleared of all charges.

Since his release, he had lived quietly in Lambunao.

Family speaks out: ‘Our Tatay was not wrong’

In a statement, the family of Roberto Cabales rejected the state’s version of events and expressed their grief and outrage.

“We refuse to let others tell tales—especially the machinations of those culpable of his murder—about who Roberto Cabales is,” the family said.

“His narrative is ours to tell.”

They described Cabales as a dedicated family man—a gentle father, a loving husband and a doting grandfather—whose revolutionary ideals stemmed from a desire to build a more just society.

While acknowledging his political beliefs, the family said they were proud of his convictions and the life he chose.

“To us, he is a dedicated communist, and we are not ashamed of it,” they said.

“Not everyone in our family may agree with the necessity of a civil war to change society, but we all agree that it is an unjust one, and that it needs changing.”

They condemned the labeling of dissenters as terrorists, calling it a tactic used to silence legitimate criticism.

“Before you agree with the military and the police that they did a good job by killing our Tatay, we wanted you to hear our story,” the statement read.

“Think about it deeply. Our Tatay was not wrong.”

Call for accountability

The killings of Suarez and Cabales have renewed calls for justice from local and national human rights groups.

Karapatan reiterated its long-standing criticism of the government’s counterinsurgency program, which it said often targets activists and civilians under the guise of national security.

“This incident adds to the long list of extrajudicial killings and attacks against political activists, human rights defenders and former political prisoners under the AFP’s counterinsurgency campaign,” Panay Alliance Karapatan said.

The group called for an independent and impartial investigation, saying those responsible must be held accountable.

It also urged protection for the victims’ families and witnesses, citing a pattern of harassment and intimidation in similar cases.