From GMA News (Dec 9): Makabayan Bloc: Murder charges vs. NDF peace consultant, wife ‘utterly absurd’
The progressive Makabayan Bloc on Sunday condemned the arrest of National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultant Rey Casambre and his wife on Friday over murder and attempted murder charges they are facing in Davao Oriental.
In a statement, the lawmakers said the warrant of arrest for the Casambre couple and six others is "highly preposterous" as at least four of them live and work in Manila.
At the same time, most of the accused are also senior citizens already and are suffering from ailments, the group said.
It is "utterly absurd," then, the Casambre and his co-accused would commit murder and attempted murder in a remote barangay in Davao Oriental, they added.
Casambre and his wife Patricia were arrested in Molino, Cavite on Friday on a verified warrant of arrest for murder and two counts of attempted murder dated November 23, 2018, issued by Presiding Judge Emilio Dayanghirang III of RTC 11th Judicial Region, Branch 32, Lupon, Davao Oriental.
Six others were ordered arrested alongside them: Antonio Liongson, Antonio Tujan, Reynaldo Desiongco Oliveros, Maria Cecilia Anaud, Dennis Rodenas and Marivic Huinda, who are supposed to be found in Barangay Maragatas in Lupon, Davao Oriental.
While authorities claimed that Casambre's arrest has nothing to do with him being an NDF consultant, the progressive lawmakers believe otherwise.
"Once again this style of filing trumped-up charges has reared its ugly head and is being used against peace advocates and activists," they said.
"In the Casambre couple's arrest police also used the same modus that they used in illegally arresting other peace consultants like Vic Ladlad, Rafael Baylosis and Adel Silva. They planted guns and explosives and filed trumped up charges," they added.
The lawmakers said they find it "tragic" and "ironic" that those who push for the resumption of the peace talks get jailed while members of the military are continuously being given positions in the government, such us outgoing Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Carlito Galvez Jr. who would lead the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.
"The Duterte administration is ill-advised if it thinks that the armed conflict can be solved with this type of modus and a purely military solution without addressing the roots of the armed conflict," they said.
"It is only by addressing the problems besetting Philippine society today like landlessness, low wages, foreign control of the economy and corruption can genuine and lasting peace be achieved, harassing and killing peace advocates will only make it worse," they added.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/677575/makabayan-bloc-murder-charges-vs-ndf-peace-consultant-wife-lsquo-utterly-absurd-rsquo/story/
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