The Negros Oriental Police filed criminal charges against six alleged members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office on Sunday.
The six suspects were arrested by government troops in Barangay Luyang, Mabinay town in an alleged encounter early Saturday, during which a number of high-powered firearms were seized from them.
They were charged with violation of Republic Act (RA) No. 9516 (An Act Further Amending the Provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1866, As Amended) and RA 10591 (An Act Providing for a Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition and Providing Penalties Thereof) for alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
The six, who are currently detained at the Negros Oriental Detention and Rehabilitation Center here, were identified as Myles Albasin y Cantal, 21, single, from Cagayan de Oro, reportedly a Mass Communication graduate of the University of the Philippines-Cebu; Jomar Indico y Garlet, 29, a resident of Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental and the alleged squad leader who was in possession of an M203 rifle with four ammunition;
Joey Vailoces y Amaro, 18, of Luyang, Mabinay; Bernardo Guillen, Jr. y Elbalsardo alias Tigas, who claimed to be 17, of Sitio Amyan, Barangay Tanawan, Kabankalan, Negros Occidental;
Randel Hermino y Balasabas, 19, of Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City; and Carlo Ybanez y Villamor, who also claimed to be 17, of Barangay Labogon in Mandaue City, Cebu.
Confiscated from them were M16 and M4 rifles during an alleged encounter with Army troopers of the 62nd Infantry Battalion in Sitio Tomonon, Barangay Luyang, Mabinay, Negros Oriental at about 2:30 a.m. last Saturday.
The six have requested for a preliminary investigation in executing a waiver for their detention.
The Philippine Army’s 303rd brigade commander, Brig. Gen. Eleazer Losañes, said the presence of “NPA rebels” in that barangay, numbering about 20, were reported by civilians, prompting the 62nd IB to deploy one company and another contingent from the police to conduct joint operations.
A brief exchange of gunfire ensued but sensing they were outnumbered, the alleged insurgents immediately surrendered while others managed to flee. There was no casualty on both sides.
According to Losañes, sometime in the middle of last year, they had already monitored the movement of the Regional Security Force (RSF) of Komiteng Rehiyun Negros (KRN) of the CPP-NPA in trying to expand their mass base to the Bindoy, Ayungon, Tayasan and Manjuyod areas or the so-called BATMAN areas in the province.
The RSF was supposed to secure the secretary of the KRN, which, according to the Army commander, is no longer ex-priest, Frank Fernandez.
In an interview while being booked at Camp Leon Kilat in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental on Saturday afternoon, the alleged squad leader said there were about 27 in their group, but they split into three groups.
He said the firearms recovered from them were left behind by persons unknown to them.
Meanwhile, the human rights group, Karapatan-Central Visayas, has denounced the arrest of the six individuals and the filing of charges against them.
At the same time, the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command (AGC) of the CPP-NPA based in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, also issued a separate statement regarding the arrest and detention of the six.
Fritzy Pamulleno, who claimed to represent Karapatan-Central Visayas, said in an interview Monday that the six were in the area to organize children of farmers, especially the youth, to apprise them of the present situation, as part of their rights to know what is going on with the present leadership to include developments of the tax reform law, charter change, high cost of living, and federalism, among others.
Pamulleno said Myles Albasin, along with the rest of the youths, were volunteers who had to seek shelter after long hours of organizing the farmers, only to be awakened at dawn surrounded by soldiers.
On the other hand, Juan Malaya, who claimed to be the spokesperson of AGC, in a signed statement, alleged that government troops are the ones entering the homes of poor farmers in the hinterland barangays without asking permission, and allegedly harassing them to admit they are members and supporters of the NPA.
The statement, however, did not say whether the persons arrested are members of the CPP-NPA.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1027502
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.