‘6 More Cause-Oriented Group Heads in Murder’

From the Negros Daily Bulletin (Jan 16): ‘6 More Cause-Oriented Group Heads in Murder’

Six more suspects in the alleged killing of an army officer in an NPA-Army encounter in Cadiz City, about two years ago, were added to the original list of alleged suspects purportedly belonging to the New People’s Army (NPA) and who declared they were innocent of the trumped-up charges, saying all of them are leaders of peaceful, legal organizations belonging to various sectoral groups. The six declared their innocence and the fact that they were victims of trumped-up charges filed by the former City Prosecutor of Cadiz, who has since retired from various service and who did not even inform them they were facing murder charges for the alleged death of an army officer, named 1st Lt. Archie Polenzo.

The six are frequently appearing in press conferences in Bacolod City and are known leaders of sectoral and mass organizations of alliance and human rights organizations.  They are Fred Caña, secretary-general of Karapatan-Negros; Clarizza Singson, chairperson of the women’s group Gabriela-Negros; Bernardito Patigas of the North Negros Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (NNAHRA); Christian Tuayon, Secretary General of Bayan-Negros; Gualberto Dajao of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT-Negros); and for the second time Ronald Ian Evidente of the Kilusang Mayo Uno-Negros (KMU-Negros).

The list of six suspects is in addition to the previous list of leaders of legal organizations implicated in the Polenzo murder case who also did not receive any subpoena from the city prosecutor who has now retired from service. The complaints form part of an amended resolution endorsed to the country’s highest court, the Supreme Court (SC) which earlier complained against the charges slapped obviously with pressure from the military acceded by the City Prosecutor’s Office and which the prosecutors pursued.

The six were once more implicated in the Polenzo ambush by an alleged witness, former rebel Freddie Sanchez alias "Warboy" whom news reports said was later executed by the NPA in Northern Negros.  The original information on the inclusion of the alleged army 1st Lt. Polenzo’s suspects was filed by retired City Prosecutor, Marcelo H. del Pilar August 15, 2011.  The amended information now including the six alleged NPA suspects led by human rights defender Fred Caña who frequently appears during press conferences on human rights issues was refilled by new Cadiz City prosecutor Goldwyn Jimenea-Chiu, who journalists had commented had an exemplary record in Bacolod where she was assistant prosecutor. 

It was Jimenea-Chiu who elevated an illegal recruitment complaint against an alleged illegal recruiter based in England.  She had victimized more than 30 applicants in Bacolod City, including several City Hall employees.

Caña said during the press conference that the filing of the amended information by Jimenea-Chiu was highly irregular as these were fabricated charges, which should not be done by those in the law enforcement and judicial system. They learned about the belated inclusion of their names, said Caña when they were informed by their legal counsel, lawyer Cesar Beloria about the complaints against them and they were aghast. They are only activists not armed regulars or guerillas of the NPA, Caña said.

Tuayon of Bayan-Negros said, aside from himself, an innocent Anecita Rojo, his mother-in-law was also detained because of the same complaint filed against her and several dozen others. Behind this prosecutor’s office-filed murder complaints is the military who are so desperate in pacifying the NPA which is steadily becoming stronger and who, by harassing and intimidating leaders of cause-oriented and sectoral organizations, believe the armed revolution can be stopped in its tracks. "But they are sadly mistaken," said Tuayon, whose uncle is also wanted by the military.

The island’s military Commander, 303rd Brigade’s CO, Col. Oscar Lactao cannot determine legal and peaceful from armed struggle, said Tuayon.  What is happening is akin to the declaration of martial rule, Tuayon said. The armed conflict in this case, will but advance and not be received.  KMU’s Ian Evidente strongly pointed out that the complaints filed against them is clearly malicious, orchestrated by the military and judicial system.  "This is unfair, unjust and a trampling of the respondents’ constitutional right," Evidente stressed.

The late Freddie Sanchez, said NNHARA’s Patigas allowed himself to be used by the military. They merely want to submit a fake accomplishment report to President Benigno Aquino III.  Gabriela-Negros Chairperson Singson said they are convenient targets as election nears.  There is a pattern as this was done during past elections, she said.  She further said they have been here all the time and that prosecutors must allow them the chance to submit their counter-affidavits. The leaders said they have relayed the filing of trumped up charges against them to their national leadership and they expect this will be attended to by the latter.

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