CHR: 'Flip-flop' stand of rebel returnee caused by fear

From the Philippine News Agency (May 14): CHR: 'Flip-flop' stand of rebel returnee caused by fear

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Negros Oriental on Wednesday warned militant groups that they will be held accountable if something happened to a rebel returnee who did a flip-flop stance recently, much to the surprise of local government and military officials.

CHR special investigator Dr. Jess Cañete was referring to the conflicting statements of Gennie Labrador, a former member of the New People’s Army (NPA) who had earlier received financial assistance from the provincial government under the Social Integration Program for former rebels.

Labrador was one of the 30 rebel returnees who received cash incentives from the provincial government during the recent declaration of Negros Oriental as conflict manageable and development ready province.

The rebel returnee, however, sprung a surprise and announced at a press conference called for by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and the Karapatan days after the declaration was made that he was not a former NPA member but was urged to admit the same by government authorities.

During that press conference, the militant groups criticized the declaration as misleading, saying that the basic social problems, more particularly poverty has not been addressed by government and as such, the insurgency problem will still persist.

However, Labrador did a back-flip late Wednesday afternoon and confirmed that he was, indeed, a former NPA member prior to his surrender, said Cañete.

In an interview with reporters and in the presence of Dr. Cañete and provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Alice Legarde, Labrador claimed that he was just under pressure allegedly by the militant groups which pushed him to say otherwise.

Cañete said he believes Labrador was telling the truth in admitting he was a rebel returnee.

Furthermore, Labrador’s surrender and the subsequent entitlement of the financial assistance were thoroughly and properly documented by the provincial Social Welfare Office.

Dr. Cañete appealed to the militant groups to give peace a chance to prosper in Negros Oriental.

“We should not be fault finders and not derail government programs to improve the lives of the people”, he said.

Labrador had recounted to the CHR chief his activities as an armed member of the NPA until his surrender but admitted he was fearful of retaliation from his former comrades in the underground organization.

But, if in any event Labrador’s previous claim of not being rebel returnee is true, the CHR is ready to subpoena those concerned and have them explain why he was being asked to pass himself off as a former NPA member, Cañete warned.

But he stressed he is inclined to believe Labrador is a former rebel now seeking a new life, based on his interview and interaction with the latter.

If ever Labrador’s life will be under threat, Cañete said he will hold the militant groups responsible.

“I will hold them responsible for the life, safety and security of Labrador, because based on his earlier statements, he said he is not afraid of the government authorities but rather is fearful of these (militant) groups,” Cañete quipped.

“He said that, and I have a recording of his statements,” Cañete added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=643716