Cops link groups to Reds based on documents seized in raid

From GMA News  Online (Apr 2, 2021): Cops link groups to Reds based on documents seized in raid (By JOVILAND RITA)

The Police Regional Office 4A on Thursday linked several organizations to communist-terrorist groups based on documents operatives recovered during the raid in Laguna on Tuesday.

PRO4A said the documents possessed by respondent identified as Marites David or Teacher Laly in the search warrant are strong evidence that the groups are associated with the rebels.

Police Brigadier General Albert Ferro, chief of the Crime Investigation and Detection Group, said the searched house was allegedly a supply line of the New People’s Army for rebellious activities.

Citing former rebel Jeffrey Celiz or Ka Eric Almendras, the PRO4A said there were several information indicating that David is involved in underground activities against the government.

According to the police, the rebels planned an attack and assassination of government officials as well as police and military personnel, as allegedly stated in the seized documents.

Moreover, police said, David is affiliated with several progressive groups such as the Alyansa ng Manggagawa sa Enklabo (AMEN).

On Tuesday, rights group Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said the police raid was conducted at the former office of AMEN in Sta. Rosa.

She said staff and members of AMEN pointed out that the old office has not been used nor visited for more than a year.

Palabay added that David, whom she addressed as staff of Olalia KMU, has not been in the place during the same period.

GMA News Online is still trying to contact Olalia KMU for its comment on the matter.

“The incident is another form of harassment against trade unionists and activists in Southern Tagalog, after the March 7 Bloody Sunday incidents,” she said in a Facebook post.

“The use of questionable search warrants to justify the filing of trumped up charges through planted evidence and perjured testimonies should stop,” she added.

On Tuesday, Philippine National Police chief Debold Sinas said a suspected "armorer" of the CPP-NPA Special Partisan Unit (SPARU) was the subject of the search warrant.

David was not around during the search but Barangay Market Area officials acknowledged the inventory of seized weapons, according to the PNP.

Recovered items from the search include:

• an M1 caliber 30 carbine
• an M2 cal.30 automatic carbine
• a Bushmaster rifle
• a unit of M16 Elisco rifle
• three cal .45 handgun
• 38 rounds of live ammunition
• nine rounds of 40mm grenade
• 15 pieces of improvised anti-personnel mine
• an improvised anti-troop carrier mine
• three pieces improvised Claymore mine
• a piece of Claymore mine
• a laptop with charger
• four pieces of envelope containing documents and streamers;
• materials for making IED such as wires, switches, blasting caps and detonating cord

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/782204/cops-link-groups-to-reds-based-on-documents-seized-in-raid/story/