Army: We'll respect ruling on ‘NPA leader'

From the Visayan Daily Star (Oct 12): Army: We'll respect ruling on ‘NPA leader'

Brig. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, 3 rd Infantry Division commander, said yesterday that they will respect the decision of the court, on the charges filed against New People's Army leader Nilda Bertulano.

Bertulano, who was arrested Tuesday at a checkpoint in Bais City, Negros Oriental, has pending arrest warrants for murder and rebellion, on top of arson charges for which she was able to post bail, after her arrest in La Carlota City, several years ago.

Militant organizations in Negros, however, described the filing of criminal complaints by the military and police against Bertulano as trumped-up up to silence leaders of progressive organizations from criticizing the government.

Baladad said the long arm of the law has reached Bertulano, and they have done their job of bringing her to the court of law.

“The Philippine Army and the AFP will follow legal proceedings and respect judicial processes,” he said.

Several rebel leaders, previously arrested by the police and military, including NPA regional commander Romeo Nanta, managed to post bail for charges filed against them.

However, upon their release from jail, they rejoined their comrades in the mountains, military records show.

The military had linked Bertulano to the death of 1Lt. Archie Polenzo of the 62nd Infantry Battalion, who was killed in an encounter with suspected New People's Army rebels in Sitio Aluyan, Brgy. Caduhaan. Cadiz City, a few years ago.

Christian Tuayon of Bayan-Negros, however, said in an interview with MBC Aksyon Radyo, that Bertulano, who was arrested in 2009, was still in jail when Polenzo died the next year.

The arrest of Bertulano in Bais City, yielded an NPA flag, subversive documents with high intelligence value, and personal belongings, the military said.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/October/12/topstory9.htm