PNoy, AFP assailed for December arrest, detention of activists, IPs

From InterAksyon (Dec 29): PNoy, AFP assailed for December arrest, detention of activists, IPs

Human rights group Karapatan on Saturday deplored this month's spate of "illegal arrests" of 23 indigenous peoples, government employees, and other individuals. Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said those who were arrested are activists who are being accused by the military as members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA). “It seems that the Aquino government and the military are scrambling to show off their supposed ‘achievements’ in meeting their target of eliminating the CPP-NPA through their Oplan Bayanihan, which resulted [in] grave, arbitrary and spurious arrests and charges of activists and individuals whom they easily branded as communists," said Palabay in a statement.  "These arrests also show how mad they are in claiming their ‘Christmas presents’ through the bounties they have offered for the arrests of those in their list,” added Palabay. The number of political prisoners under the Aquino administration has continued "to swell," according to Karapatan.

The group has documented the cases of 198 political prisoners since November 30, 2012. Karapatan said at least 123 of the prisoners were arrested under the current administration and remain in detention.  “Aquino has not only remained callous in heeding the demands of the people in releasing political prisoners, he has also continued the policy and practice of heaping criminal offenses on activists and ordinary citizens whom his administration deems as ‘enemies of the state’,” Palabay said.

Karapatan identified the persons arrested this month as follows:

1) Randy Vegas and Raul Camposano, both long-time union organizers and staffers of the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees. Karapatan said Vegas and Camposano were arrested on December 3 for "fabricated" charges of murder, theft, and frustrated murder filed at the Regional Trial Court Branch 64 in Labo, Camarines Norte. Vegas and Camposano were implicated in the said cases because of their alleged participation in an ambush of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines by the NPA in Camarines Norte in April 29, 2012.

2) Nineteen members, including three minors, of the Tribu Bukidnon Indigenous Peoples organization in Barangay San Agustin, Isabela, Negros Occidental arrested on December 13, after elements of the 11th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army barged in their village and accused the farmers of keeping members of the NPA. "The farmers suffered from various forms of involuntary servitude, when they were threatened and ordered by the military to go with them to another village where they were hauled off to the Isabela Philippine National Police station," said Karapatan. Eleven of them were released on December 15, while eight farmers were charged with murder and multiple frustrated murder, and are currently detained at the Isabela Police Station in Negros Occidental.

3) Olegario Sevas, 65, arrested on December 25 in Negros Oriental by elements of the AFP and PNP. Initial reports indicate that Sevas was tagged as “Filemon Mendrez,” an alleged leader of the NPA who had a P5.25-million bounty for his arrest. "The military said ‘Filemon Mendrez’ was charged with rebellion and robbery in band, while the warrant of arrest against Sevas does not bear his name," said Karapatan. Sevas is detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Bayawan Ciy, Negros Oriental.

4) Rene Boy Abiva, a 23-year old employee of the Department of Social Work and Development in Cagayan province and an organizer of the ACT Teachers Partylist, arrested on December 28 for charges of murder. Karapatan said Abiva was arrested by units led by a certain Col. Julius Balana of the Regional Intelligence Division of the PNP. He is detained at the Sto. Domingo PNP station in Tuguegarao City. "Upon inquiry of his wife on the supposed charges against him, his arresting officers said that he is being arrested for his supposed involvement in the April 2012 NPA ambush of at least 12 soldiers under the 86th Infantry Battalion of the Phil. Army," said Karapatan. "The said unit has been reportedly carrying out rights violations in the course of their military operations in the communities in Tinooc, Ifugao," the group added.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/51502/pnoy-afp-assailed-for-december-arrest-detention-of-activists-ips