Fact Sheet: Angie Ipong

Abduction, Torture and Sexual Abuse

On March 8, 2005, Angie was in a meeting with peace advocates and lay volunteers when more than ten armed men wearing bonnets and fatigue shorts abducted her. The men identified themselves as police-CIDG. Upon abduction she was handcuffed, blindfolded, and then brought to Bulacan Tabak Division Headquarters, where she was subjected to continuous interrogation and harassment. For 14 days Angie was in complete isolation.

On March 11, Angie was brought to Southern Command Headquarters, where she was repeatedly tortured and sexually abused by her abductors. They tied her hands behind her back, struck her shoulders, punched her at her sides and hit her head with folded paper. Her abductors also undressed her, fondled and made fun of her breasts and touched her private parts. She was left unconscious and for the whole night, the aircon was in full blast.

On March 16, she was presented to the media still in blindfolds. She was so sick, nauseated, and in pain, that her abductors made her sit in a wheelchair. She was brought to the hospital to check her blood pressure and was later returned to the isolation room.

On March 18, Angie was again blindfolded and brought to Molave Municipal Hall. Afterwards she was brought to Ramon Magsaysay prison where military men from the 5thInfantry Battalion guarded the vicinity.

On March 19, Angie was brought to Pagadian City Jail but her captors still refused to allow visits from her family, relatives and friends. March 20, she was still declared missing.

It was only on March 21 when Angie was finally presented to Atty. Andres Nacilla and to human rights advocates from KARAPATAN.

Trumped Up Charges, Detention Conditions

Angie Ipong has been in jail for three years now. She is now 63 years old and detained together with common criminals.

In jail, Angie was able to organize women inmates (ranging from 16 to 20 inmates) to initiate productive work within the jail compound — bead work, cooking snacks (for selling to jail guards and other inmates, card-making, sewing and gardening). In 2006, with the support of her family, Angie was able to build a small hut within the jail compound for the rehabilitation of women prisoners. This was were Angie and 5 other women inmates stayed and where their production work was done. Unfortunately, by the start of 2007, with the assignment of a new jail warden, the hut was confiscated and turned into a cooperative store of the jail personnel. Angie was placed back in the small cell (within a one-storey building surrounded by other cells occupied by male inmates) together with other common criminals. Angie was only able to negotiate privileges for her to get out of the cell on a daily basis to do gardening, sewing and cooking. In the meantime, Angie keeps herself busy by making cards.

There are currently three cases filed against Angie – separate cases of rebellion in Molave, Zamboanga del Sur and in Dipolog City and arson, double attempted murder and double murder in Calamba, Misamis Occidental. Angie’s lawyer, Atty. Emiliano Deleverio has moved for the dismissal of the two rebellion cases. He also filed for re-investigation on the Calamba case with the end view to consolidate all three cases as rebellion, but this motion was denied by the court. Angie’s arraignment on the last case is set on November 12, 2007.