3 “nawawalang” NPA fighters ligtas sa kamay ng militar

PINABULAANAN ng Philippine Army nitong Huwebes ang mga alegasyong dinukot nila sina Alia Encelo, Job Abednego David at Peter Del, kung di, ay nahuli nila ang mga New People’s Army (NPA) guerillas na mga ito, sa isang military operation sr BCC l Barangay Lisap, Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro on September 23, 2023.

Sa isang pahayag, pinuna ni Brig.Gen. Randolph Cabangbang, commander ng 203rd Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, ang baluktot na pagbabalita ng grupong Karapatan na ‘puno din ng kasinungalingan” dahil ipinakikilala pa ang tatlo, bilang mga Indigenous People’s defenders samantalang mga NPA members naman.

“The three (were identified) as members of the Main Regional Guerilla Unit (MRGU), through a profile and gallery of the MRGU. During the capture, they attempted to resist and reach for some objects inside their bags and upon seeing that they have been surrounded, decided to heed the soldiers’ call not to move anymore. They were in possession of improvised landmines and grenades inside their bags that they probably planned to use in ambushing government troops,” paliwanag ni Cabangbang.

Si Alia, na 19 taong-gulang ay aktibong Gabriela Youth bago naging NPA. Ang mga nahuling rebelde ayon kay Cabangbang ay umamin na patago-tago lamang sa kabundukan dahil sa patuloy na mga military operations, at hindi nga nakakakain nang mabuti sa loob na halos ng dalawang buwan.

Ito ang nag-bunsod ng pagsasampa ng mga kaso sa tatlong miyembro ng NPA sa paglabag sa Republic Act No. 9516 (An act Further Amending the Provisions of PD No. 1866, As Amended, Entitled Codifying the Laws on Illegal/Unlawful Possession, Manufacture, Dealing in, Acquisition or Disposition of Firearms, Ammunition or Explosives or Instruments Used in the Manufacture of Firearms, Ammunition or Explosives, and Imposing Stiffer Penalties for Certain Violations Thereof, and For Other Relevant Purposes) and Violation of Section 4(a) and 4(d), Republic Act No. 11479 (Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020).

Samantala, wala din naitalang pinsala sa mga nasabing military operations taliwas sa mga ipinakakalat ng Karapatan.

Ang pamilya naman ng tatlong NPA members ay nabatid na Ang pagkakahuli sa kanila. Ang ina ni Alia ay nakasama na niya ngunit ang kina Peter at Job ay hindi pa, ngunit nag-paabot ito kay Cabangbang ng mensahe na sila raw ay pinipilit ng Karapatan-NCR members na kundinahin pa ang militar.

“According to the mother of Peter, she was made to sign documents that were not explained to her and that she needed to sign at once because her son might be in danger. The mother told her son, during a video call, that she was tricked by a certain Jaworski Jordan N. Cruz into signing the documents. The parents of Job were also contacted but they refused to sign any documents presented to them,” paliwanag pa ni Cabangbang.

Pinaninindian ng Army na walang sapilitang pagkawala sa mga nahuling NPA members, at ang pagkakadakip sa tatlo ay dumaan sa mga tamang protocols, di gaya ng pinakakalat ng grupong Karapatan.