Church worker still faces rebellion raps

From the Visayan Daily Star (Dec 4): Church worker still faces rebellion raps

Although the murder case against her has been dropped, alleged rebel leader Nilda Bertulano is still facing a charge for rebellion, Senior Supt. Milko Lirazan, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, yesterday said.

Bertulano, alias Ka Frea, was linked by the military to the killing of 1Lt. Archie Polenzo in an encounter with suspected New People’s Army rebels in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, in 2010.

In dropping the murder case, Judge Rosario Orada-Caise of the Regional Trial Court Branch 48, said that it was impossible for Bertulano to take part in the killing of Polenzo as she was detained for a different offense when the army official was killed.

Aside from rebellion and murder cases, Bertulano is also facing a case of arson, for which she posted bail, after her arrest in La Carlota City, police records showed.

Bayan Negros secretary general Christian Tuayon insists that Bertulano is not an NPA leader, but a Church worker who was wrongfully accused.

Military records show that Bertulano was among the key personalities of the Komiteng Rehiyonal-Negros, that included NPA regional commander Romeo Nanta, Hernando Llorente, Rogelio Danoso, Mary Grace Delicano-Sumayang, and Arturo Moleta, who rejoined their comrades in the mountains after posting bail, before she was arrested for the second time in Negros Oriental.

Maj. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, 3rd Infantry Division commander, said they have done their job of bringing Bertulano to the court of law.

Baladad, stressed in a statement in issued that the Armed Forces of the Philippines will follow legal proceedings and respect judicial processes. We will abide by the rule of law because we are in a democratic society. We will leave it to the civilian court to decide on her case”.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/December/04/topstory14.htm