By KIMBERLIE NGABIT-QUITASOL with reports from RONALYN OLEA/Bulatlat
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Another activist, a member of Gabriela-Ilocos was arrested after she was accused of being a high ranking official of the local communist group in her region.

Gloria Quinones Floresca, 57, former provincial coordinator of Gabriela-Ilocos, was arrested July 21 from her home in Naguilian, La Union. She was brought to Camp Diego Silang in San Fernando City, the PNP provincial headquarters. She was charged with rebellion.

Police reports said Floresca was arrested by the joint forces of the La Union Police Provincial Office Intelligence Branch (LUPPO-IB), Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), First Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, Regional Intelligence Office 1, and Naval Security Group – Northern Luzon.

Girlie Padilla of Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace (EMJP) said Floresca was arrested in front of her four-year-old granddaughter. Padilla said Floresca had even asked permission from her captors to let her cook lunch for her granddaughter before taking her.

According to Ilocos Human Rights Alliance (IHRA) reports, Floresca was taken from her house at around 12:00 noon and was brought to the Ilocos Training Regional Medical Center (ITRMC) for a medical check up but for unknown reasons the attending physician did not issue a a medical examination result. She was then brought to the provincial headquarters where her mug shots and finger prints were taken.

The IHRA report pointed out that Floresca was interviewed by several police officers even without a lawyer representing her. Floresca, in the said interviews asserted that the accusations against her are not true.

In a press release dispatched to the media right after the arrest, the PNP accused Floresca of being the Head of the Finance Bureau of the Ilocos Cordillera Regional Committee EXECOM.

Floresca was temporarily placed under the custody of the PNP’s Women and Children Crisis Desk (WCCD) where she and her daughter stayed for the night before she was brought to Tagudin, Ilocos Sur the following day, July 22.

IHRA reported that at the WCCD, an unidentified police officer invited Floresca for questioning at around 11:00PM. The questioning lasted for 30 minutes before she was allowed to sleep.

Court records showed that Floresca’s case is under Criminal Case No. 969-T Tagudin RTC Branch 25, was filed by 1LT Romy Andres, Cpl. Paulino Tabug, Jr., Cpl. Felix Casil, Pfc. Joseph Hoyohoy, Pfc. Noel Bilog, Pfc. Michael Saldo, all from 50th Infantry Battalion, 5th Infantry Division Philippine Army. The Warrant of Arrest was issued by retired Judge Melanio Rojas last June 28, 2007 and later on by Judge Sixto Diompoc last February 19, 2010 after the case was archived. 

Floresca is currently detained at the Ilocos Sur Provincial Jail in Vigan City. # nordis.net