BAGUIO CITY -- The Ilocos Human Rights Advocates condemned the “false charges” against United Church of Christ in the Philippines Pastor Francisco “Jun” Bunoan who was arrested here on April 21 and later detained as one of the principal suspects in the killing of former rebel priest Conrado Balweg seven years ago. Bunoan, 45 and resident of Aringay, La Union was nabbed around 5:30 p.m. that day by the Police Intelligence Group-Cordillera while waiting for a ride together with his brother. The IHRA said in a statement Supt. James Bucayo and his team apprehended Bunoan after confirming his identity and immediately brought him to Camp Dangwa in La Trinidad, Benguet where he stayed until April 22.
The arrest was made after the Regional Trial Court in Abra issued an arrest warrant for their alleged involvement in murder of Balweg on Dec. 31, 1999. On April 23, Bunoan was brought to the Abra provincial jail. His arraignment was scheduled this May.
The IHRA said Bunoan was one of the 14 names accused of killing Fr. Balweg despite the admission of the Agustin Begnalen Command of the New People's Army that the communist group did the killing.
Others includes the late Romy Sanchez of BAYAN-Ilocos, Rev. Noel and Emelyn Dacuycuy of Ilocos Human Rights Advocates (IHRA), Avelino Dacanay and Nomer Kuan of Solidarity of Peasants Against Exploitation (STOP Exploitation-KMP) and Lorna Rivera-Baba of Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) who suffered severe torture from the military in 2000. Their cases were dismissed after they proved their innocence.
Bunoan served as a church worker of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) in the Ilocos Region. In line with this, he worked in the North Luzon Jurisdiction (NLJ) under Bishop Mario Inong as a researcher for Ilocos, Baguio, Tarlac and Manila.
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