NDF: Free Ka Frank, charges trumped up

From the Visayan Daily Star (Mar 27, 2019): NDF: Free Ka Frank, charges trumped up

The National Democratic Front–Negros condemned the arrest of its spokesperson, Frank Fernandez, and two others, and also denounced what it claimed to be trumped up charges filed against them.

In a statement it issued yesterday, the NDF-Negros also demanded that the government present Fernandez, his wife, Cleofe Lagtapon, and Gee-Ann Perez to their families and legal counsel, and immediately release them on the basis of justice, propriety and humanitarian considerations.

Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Brigade commander, said Fernandez, 71, who is the secretary of Komiteng Rehiyonal-Negros/Cebu/Bohol/ Siquijor, Lagtapon who is ranked number two in the Negros revolutionary movement, and Perez were arrested in Laguna on Sunday by the police and military.

Arevalo assured the families of three captured rebels that they are being treated very well, noting also that two of them are senior citizens and need medical attention.

Shortly before his arrest, Arevalo said that Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Carlito Galvez even offered medical treatment to the ailing Fernandez at St. Luke’s Medical Center, and allocated P1 million for his medical needs, if he will surrender.

NDF-Negros admitted that Fernandez, accompanied by his wife, were in Laguna to seek medical attention. Considering their old age and the health condition of Fernandez, the military and police were ridiculous for planting firearms and explosives on them, it added.

The arrest of the three rebel suspects yielded three .45 caliber pistols, three hand grenades, cellular phones, and USB ports that contained subversive documents.

As to the NDF-Negros claim that Fernandez still enjoys immunity from arrest for being among their peace consultants through the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees, Arevalo reminded them that the JASIG is no longer in effect after the termination of peace talks by President Rodrigo Duterte.

It is a lie and cheap propaganda to say that Fernandez and his companions are being mistreated, he said.

NDF-Negros also debunked military claims that the arrest of Fernandez is a setback for the revolutionary movement, recalling his statement during the 2016 Peace Forum in Negros Island, where he emphasized that “the people know that the revolutionary movement is alive, not because of Frank Fernandez, but because the masses keep the revolution.”

Arresting the two top leaders of the CPP-NPA in the Visayas will create not only a leadership and ideological vacuum, considering that Fernandez and Lagtapon are among the remaining icons of the communist terrorist organization in the region, but also a great demoralization effect among the NPA remnants, Arevalo said.

There is a reward of not less than P8 million for the arrest of Fernandez, who was among the seven Negros priests who joined the revolutionary movement in the early 1970s, Arevalo said.

The former Catholic priest, with the aliases of Agro, Ibarra, Tatay, Uloy, Andot, faces murder and attempted murder cases in Guihulgan City, Negros Oriental, and a robbery case before the Cadiz Regional Trial Court.

Arevalo said Lagtapon, 66, is the deputy secretary of KR-NCBS and head of the Finance Commission.

The arrest of Lagtapon, Arevalo said will disrupt the distribution of the rebel group’s finances and collection of money through their activities.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/March/27/topstory1.htm