CPP: Arrest, torture of five accused NPA members in Quezon, brazen disregard of ceasefire--CPP

From the CPP Website (Dec 25): Arrest, torture of five accused NPA members in Quezon, brazen disregard of ceasefire--CPP

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today condemned the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for carrying out the arrest, torture and detention of five accused members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Mulanay, Quezon just before midnight last Friday. Elements of the 74th IB took into custody Dennis Quidor of Macalelon, Quezon, Eliseo Lopez of San Francisco, Quezon and Rodrigo Guevarra of San Andres, Quezon with two other unnamed residents of San Francisco. The five were flagged down at one of the highway checkpoints set up by the AFP in Quezon.

“The five were arrested and subjected to severe torture. They are being detained at the police municipal jail in Mulanay. Their faces and bodies bore clear signs of torture. They are clearly psychologically traumatized.” The two unnamed residents of San Francisco were later released to their families. “Whether or not there is truth to the accusation of the AFP that the five were members of the NPA does not give the AFP any justification to carry out the illegal arrest, detention and torture of the five,” said the CPP. “This is in clear violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).”

“The arrest and torture of the five was carried out in brazen disregard of the ceasefire order issued by the AFP itself which took effect last December 16. That setting up roadblocks and other so-called ‘peace and order’ operations are not covered by the ceasefire is a vain attempt to justify its continued attacks against the people even during this holiday season.”

The CPP dismissed the AFP’s claim that the three supposed members of the NPA were conducting surveillance operations for a planned raid in Mulanay and San Francisco, Quezon. “The AFP is concocting one fairy-tale after another in a vain attempt to justify its heightened intelligence operations, militarization of communities and setting up of military checkpoints in the Quezon province.”

The CPP Central Committee issued a few days ago a ceasefire order which took effect last December 20 and will last until midnight of January 15. The ceasefire order was issued upon recommendation of the Negotiating Panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) which agreed with special representatives of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) to recommend a simultaneous ceasefire order.

The CPP pointed out, however, that Malacañang has yet to issue a ceasefire order in accordance with the agreement between the NDFP and Aquino’s special representatives as contained in the Joint Communique issued after the December 17-18 meeting in The Hague, Netherlands. As agreed upon, Aquino will have to issue another ceasefire order to override or extend his earlier order that will last only up to January 2, 2013.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/arrest-torture-of-five-accused-npa-members-in-quezon-brazen-disregard-of-ceasefire-cpp