In 2001, eleven boys aged 14 to 17 were taken from different parts of the Mindanao Province by the military. They were taken to either a military base or a police station, and they have all stated that they received similar treatments of being blindfolded and tortured for at least three days. Tortured in the forms of severe beatings, water treatment (suffocation), electrocution and harming other family members in their presence. During these sessions, the boys were constantly being told to admit to crimes that they knew nothing about. Only later to find out, that the crimes in question were committed by members of the ASG.
The ASG, Abu Sayyaf Group is a well known Muslim terrorist group that have made their name through kidnappings, bombings and other forms of violence on the government.
In 2001 the government initiated a crack down on the ASG, promising to abolish its estimated 400 members within a year’s time. Following this statement, the military started extracting anyone they suspected had links to the ASG from the Mindanao Region. Some of the 11 boys share similar names to wanted ASG members, this was evidently enough for them to be charged with numerous accounts of kidnapping and bombing, for some in cities that they had never seen. Taufic who was only 14 at this time, was charged for attacks that took place two years prior his arrest, which meant he allegedly committed those crimes at the age of 12.
Despite the fact that these boys were all minors, and it is illegal to put them in a normal prison with adult prisoners, that is what was done. Aside from the few that are brothers, they did not know each other before being moved to Camp Bagong Diwa, a prison here in Manila. Here the 11 boys became friends, sharing similar experiences to one another and being the only prisoners that were minors.
In 2005 there was an alleged jailbreak, which resulted in 22 prisoner casualties. One casualty being 17 year old Ahmad Saheron, one of the eleven boys. Another being a 79 year old man who could not walk and was found shot dead still in his bed. All 22 casualties were Muslim.
The surviving 10 boys are still imprisoned seven years since their abduction. One has been convicted of 20 counts of a life sentence, giving him a sentence of 400 years. According to the other boys this sentence, alike their initial arrest was given without proof of any kind, but only the pointing of a finger by the military. The other 9 boys have not been convicted, but do not have the financial support to pay for legal aid. They should be granted one hearing a month, but there have been separations of over a year between hearings for some. I am told that the legal system in the Philippines is “Innocent until proven guilty”…in theory. However in reality, “Guilty until proven innocent”, if you don’t have the money, you remain guilty.
These boys were charged at a time when the government needed someone to accuse. Many were presented to the media as an achievement for the government’s Anti Terrorism efforts.
Seven years on, one is dead, one is sentenced to 400 years in prison, and the others are looking into a very uncertain future.
Bimbas Jan 23rd 1987
Jammang June 3rd 1984
Arman March 12th 1985
Omar Nov 15th 1985
Saltimar Dec 7th 1984
Ikram Jan 19th 1987
Taufic Sep 4th 1987
Ahmed April 10th 1985
Kuzair May 3rd 1986
For the individual stories of some of these boys click on the 'Youth Prisoners:Individual Stories' Link on the right of the page.
We were prohibited from taking photos of the actual cells, which the boys tell us sleeps five to seven inmates. These photos were taken outside the walls after our last visit on May 31st 2008.
