March 6, 2010 - A 33-year old man, hired as security guard by Philippine-based security agency but sub-contracted by a US-based agency, was tortured and summarily executed inside the Army’s 103rd Brigade headquarters at Camp Ranao in Datu Saber in Marawi City on February 2.

The victim, Gregan Cardeno Velez, married with three children and a resident of Sanito, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, entered into a Contract of Service, as a Security Guard for a period of three (3) months, from February 01, 2010 to April 30, 2010, by the Skylink Security and General Services, represented by THOMAS P. RIVERA III.

The real and actual nature of his work, according to Kawagib, an alliance for the advancement of Moro human rights, was sub-contracted by Dyn Corporation, a US-based manpower services agency, which the later contracted Skylink Security and General Services the recruitment of Filipino workers, in the case of the Late Gregan Cardeño Y Velez, to serve as interpreter of the U.S Forces under BALIKATAN of the Joint Special Operations Task Force of the Philippines (JSOTFP), under the Visiting Forces Agreement, station at 103rd Brigade, Philippine Army, at Camp Ranao, Datu Saber, Marawi City.

The deceased, previous to his employment as interpreter was a self-employed in a buy and sell business while operating a tricycle at Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, as main source of income to support his family.

Kawagib narrated the accounts of the family in chronological event:

“On February 01, 2010, at about 6:45 a.m., Myrna accompanied her husband, Gregan to Edwin Andrews Air Base (EAAB), at Sta. Maria, Zamboanga City, where he is scheduled to go to Cotabato at Camp Siongco, Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipality, Maguindanao on board a U.S. helicopter along with three US soldiers, the place of his assignment as interpreter of the United States of America, armed forces, under the “Joint Special Operations Task Force of the Philippines, under the BALIKATAN of the Visiting Forces Agreement.

On February 02 around 7:48 in the morning, Carivel, elder sister of the victim received text message from Gregan containing the following message, “mi, diri ko gidala sa marawi gahapon?”. Carivel replied, “ok ka lang ba dyan?”, Gregan replied “oo mi”. However, at about 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon, he called again crying and told “mi, dili man ni mao akong trabaho diri, pait man ni kaayo”. Carivel told “sige, sige, ako na lay tawag para dili mahurot ang imong load”, then she made a return call in his cellphone. He answered however, only after several ringing tones. When he finally answered, Carivel said “hello gig (referring to Gregan), unsa man diay, unsa may problema?”, before he answered he kept crying, he said “nagtawag ko sa agency kay dili ko kaagwanta diri, dili ni mao akong trabaho. Ilang ingon, ipasecure ang kwarta”. Then the cellphone line went off. Carivel called again, his phone just kept ringing, when he answered, he said “si mimi ug si janet, gipasecure ang kwarta. Basin diri nako mamatay kay dili ni mao akong trabaho”, then he kept crying. Carivel asked “kinsa man gyud imong kauban dinha? Naa ba kay kauban nga pinoy?”, he answered “naa, pero nagauli every afternoon kay nagaluto lang man to. Puro amerikano akong kuyog, mag-meeting daw me unya” and the cellphone line went off.

On February 02, 2010, at about 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon, Myrna received call message via her husband mobile phone, with cellphone number 09074876667, which she recognized her husband cellphone. She sensed, her husband was crying. Gregan said, “naa ko sa Marawi karon, diri nila ako gidala”. Myrna was surprised, knowing that his place of assignment was in Cotabato. While crying, Gregan told her in bisaya “Lisod kaayo akong nasodlan” She sensed, Gregan is crying while talking to her in the phone, Myrna advised him to come home (at Sanito, Ipil, Sibugay) anytime the following day (February 03, 2010). Thereafter, their conversation was cut-off.

On February 03, 2010, at around 2:00 p.m., the wife received a call message via a cell phone number owned by the deceased, from certain SPO3 Ali, informing her that the deceased was found death, with his body hanging in his room, at the barracks of the 103rd Brigade, PA, at Camp Ranao, Brgy. Datu Saber, Marawi City.

At around 4:00 p.m. of February 03, 2010, the cadaver of the late Gregan Cardeño Y Velez, arrived at Edwin Andrews Air base (EAAB), Zamboanga City. The family however was barred from claiming the cadaver upon its arrival at the EAAB, instead, was advised to see and claim said cadaver at the “La Merced Memorial Homes”, Zamboanga City.

The cadaver arrived at La Merced Memorial Homes, without the required “Certificate of Clearance” issued by competent government agency, to transport dead person, including Death Certificate, issued by the Office of the Civil Registrar of the place where the cadaver was found dead and in order to make the execution of the embalmer valid and legal. Instead, a post mortem examination by an accredited physician of the Philippine National Police, Regional Office, based in the City of Zamboanga, was conducted.

The cadaver was not yet in rigor mortis despite the lapse of 16 hours. The family further observed that the sealable plastic of the cadaver was filled with ice in the upper part of the body. The family saw patent injuries around the neck of the cadaver, three fatal injuries appers in the head apparently caused by a hard blunt object and several penetrating wounds on both feet, legs and calves apparently caused by a round sharp or pointed object.

On the same date, the PNP reported via radio message that the deceased was found dead on February 02, 2010 at around midnight and the motive was apparently suicide.

On February 05, 2010 at around 8:00 pm, Carivel Cardeño, the sister of the deceased who is also conducting follow-up investigation on the incident received a call message from SPO3 Ali, the same Police Officer who earlier informed one of the relative of the deceased about the cause of death. But this time, contradicted his earlier message that the deceased was found dead with his body hanged, instead, when they arrived at the scene of the crime, the body was in fact found lying on the floor and the area was already contaminated and further asked for dispensation. (This is to presuppose a conclusion that, determination as to the true cause of death can no longer be established).

On February 09, 2010, relative of the deceased making a follow-up investigation on the incident as to the cause of death, had received a call message from Capt. Mike Kaye, team leader of the US Forces stationed at 103rd Brigade, PA, at Camp Ranao, Datu Saber, Marawi City, saying that his (Mike) colleagues already contributed for financial assistance to Gregan’s family and promised to give it the next day.

On February 11, around 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon, the family of the victim went to Western Mindanao Command, Upper Calarian, Zamboanga City and had a dialogue with Capt. Boyer, Master Sergeant Gines, both US troops, regarding Gregan’s employment status with the JSOTFP, relation with the BALIKATAN. In the said dialogue, Capt. Boyer asserted that Skylink should open direct dialogue with the deceased family after the later burial.

Dr. Rufon, of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), conducted an autopsy examination on the cadaver of the deceased and promised to release the report soon after laboratory test in Manila shall have been completed.”

The report was prepared for Kawagib by Bai Ali Indayla on February 23, 2010 in Zamboanga City.