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Groups demand investigation on ‘summary execution’ of former UP student leader

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Activist groups mourn the death of a former University of the Philippines (UP) student activist they said was a “revolutionary serving the people of Mindanao” and condemn the manner of her “summary execution.”

Killed last April 10 by combined elements of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Barangay Butong, Quezon town, Bukidnon, the groups said Kaliska Dominica Peralta was tortured and summarily killed like many other New People’s Army (NPA) fighters captured by state forces.

“We raise concerns, and condemn in no uncertain terms, the manner of her death and call on relevant agencies and institutions to conduct a thorough and impartial probe,” Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) said in a statement.

 The group said reports emerging from Mindanao show that there was no armed encounter in Bukidnon on the day of Peralta’s death.

Women’s group GABRIELA also said the Peralta’s death may be another violation of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

“The willful killing of Peralta by the military, who was unarmed at the time of her arrest, is a war crime that can never be justified under any circumstance. This is a blatant violation of (the IHL),” GABRIELA secretary general Clarice Palce said in a separate statement.

Kaliska Dominica Peralta

‘Another IHL violation under Marcos Jr’

Both BAYAN and GABRIELA cited an earlier report from the League of Filipino Students (LFS) saying Peralta was killed last Wednesday, contrary to the military’s claims that an “encounter” occurred on April 11 that resulted in her death.

The LFS said that Peralta’s death certificate confirms she died on April 10 and her remains were not subjected to an autopsy.

The student group added that according to witnesses, Peralta and three of her comrades were already unarmed when captured and that she was later “taken to another part of the community and mercilessly killed.”

“Peralta’s body was unrecognizable and severely desecrated, showing marks of brutal torture and abuse,” GABRIELA added.

BAYAN also added that Peralta’s killing fits the pattern of many other NPA fighters and activists who were captured and summarily executed by the military, including NPA spokesperson Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos, National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultant Ericson Acosta and others.

“The violations of (IHL) continue to rise under the Marcos regime. The viciousness of these killings has intensified in light of the terrorist-labeling of revolutionaries by the Philippine government,” BAYAN said.

Peralta was a Film student and served as the chairperson of the LFS-UP Diliman chapter in 2014-2015. She was involved in various student campaigns against education budget cuts, academic calendar shift, and various socialized tuition schemes.

“After several years, she decided to embrace the highest form of struggle to free society from the current prevailing system. She struggled with the Lumad and farmers of Mindanao for their rights to land and ancestral domain that are being taken by landlords and bombed by the military,” LFS said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

SERYE BABAE: Hinagpis ng isang ina’t hamon sa kababaihang biktima ng dahas ng Estado

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Ni Nuel M. Bacarra

Naalala ko ngayong buwan ng kababaihan ang isang kanta ng aking ina noong siya’y nabubuhay pa. Ani ng kanyang awit: “Mahirap nga pala itong mahirap / Api-apihan sa pagliyag / Mayaman sa dusang masasaklap / at aliwan ng dusa’t bagabag.”

Bagamat tila sagot ito sa isang harana, larawan ito ng pagtitiis ng mga ina, na siyang sariling danas at katangian ng aking ina. Hindi dumadaing kahit nahihirapan at sagad sa buto ang pagtatrabaho para sa pamilyang itinataguyod ng nag-iisa. Single parent ang siyang tawag ngayon sa mga katulad niya.

Ngunit nais kong bigyang halaga ngayon ang mga ina at kababaihan. Hindi maitatatwa ninuman ang kanilang papel sa buhay ninuman. Karaniwang katawagan na kabiyak sila ng buhay, ilaw ng tahanan ng isang pamilya. Sila ang punlaan ng buhay na nagluluwal ng mga anak na siyang magtutuloy ng lahi.

May mga babaeng tipong Maria Clara. Meron din namang tulad ni Gabriela Silang. Meron ding naghuhubad na para lang kumita at meron ding nagpapayaman lamang gamit ang bulok na pulitikang namamayani sa bansa.

Sa kasalukuyan, hindi na solong gawain ng kababaihan ang magluto, maglaba, mag-alaga ng mga anak, mamalengke, maglinis ng bahay o magtrabaho sa mga upisina at paggawaan. Malayo na ang inabot ng pakikibaka ng kababaihan sa buong mundo pagdating sa paglaya nila sa tradisyunal na konsepto sa papel ng kababaihan sa buhay. Mayroon nang mga drayber ng bus, dyip, traysikel at habal-habal, mga welder, construction worker, piloto, sundalong sumasabak sa gera at samutsari pang gawain sa ibang bansa.

Isa na rito si Rodaliza Baltazar. Babae. Ina.

Isa siyang babaeng katuwang ng asawa na nagtataguyod sa pamilya sa pamamagitan ng pagiging overseas Filipino worker (OFW) sa Middle East. Ina siya na nagsasakripisyong mawalay sa mga anak para lamang matiyak ang magandang kinabukasan. Nais niyang maging marino o seaman ang pinaslang niyang anak na bunso. Magpapadala pa sana siya ng pera sa kanya bilang regalo kahit nakalipas na ang kaarawan niya noong paslangin ito.

Umuwi sa bansa si Rodaliza noong Agosto 11, 2023  dahil napatay at “napagkamalan lamang” si Jerhode, 17 taong gulang at mas kilala bilang si Jemboy. Inakala ng mga pulis na ang menor de edad ay suspek sa isang kaso ng  pagpatay. Gumuho ang pangarap ni Rodaliza para kay Jemboy at nagpasya itong huwag nang bumalik sa Qatar para tutukan ang paghahanap ng hustisya.

Nitong Pebrero 28, dalawang araw bago ang buwan ng kababaihan, tila pinatakan ng asin at kalamansi sa sugat sa puso ng pamilya. Nag-baba ng desisyon ang Regional Trial Court 286 ng Navotas ang kaso na hindi katanggap-tanggap sa pamilya.

“Lima silang makakalaya, isa lang ‘yung na-convict, tapos apat na taon lang. Pero ‘yung anak ko habambuhay siyang wala na,” hinagpis ni Rodaliza. Isa na namang kaso ito ng tila hindi pantay pagtimbang ng batas. Mula sa kasong murder, ginawa lamang itong homicide. Sentensyado si Staff Sgt. Gerry Maliban, PNP, at pinagbabayad ng tig-₱50,000.00 na bayad-pinsala kaugnay ng pananagutang sibil at moral. Ayon pa sa Huwes, “Walang dudang ginampanan lamang ni PSSgt. Maliban ang kanyang tungkulin sa pangyayari.”

“Hindi ba nila alam yung itsura nung hinuhuli nila? Tapos yung anak ko yung pinagbabaril nila, tapos pinabayaan nila sa ilog,” hinagpis ni Rodaliza.

Maraming katanungan ang namutawi sa labi ng mamamayan sa nangyari kay Jemboy. Bakit hindi muna nag-imbestiga ang mga pulis sa tinarget nila na nasa ilog? Bakit ninais na palabasin pa nila na may dalang baril at droga ang biktima, tulad ng testimonya ng kaibigan ni Jemboy na pinaglalabas siya ng salaysay para sabihing may dalang baril at droga noon ang pinaslang? Mga tanong ng pagdududa, ng paghahanap ng mga karagdagang impormasyon, ng patas na imbestigasyon, ng katiyakan bago kumitil ng buhay at, higit sa lahat, katarungan.

Maging ang estado ay hindi rin mapakali sa naging desisyon ng korte. May pabalat-bungang utos naman si Justice Sec. Jesus Crispin Remulla kay Justice Asst. Sec. Jose Dominic Clavano na repasuhin ang kasong ito dahil mukhang may mali sa desisyon at kung gayon ay maaaring mag-apela.

Ayon naman kay Clavano, batay sa inisyal nilang pag-aaral, may mga kailangang argumento para kwestyunin ang desisyon tulad ng elemento ng pagsasabwatan, kapasyahang pumatay, at ng pagiging makatwiran ng aksyong ginawa ng mga pulis.

Ang lahat ng ito ay panibagong hiwa sa puso ng nagdadalamhating ina, maging ng buong pamilya. Hindi na kayang sukatin ng dami ng luha at tindi ng hinagpis, ni ng mga pampalubag-loob para lamang pagtakpan ang kawalang-katarungan.

Hindi nag-iisa si Rodaliza Baltazar sa ganitong sinapit—isang inang naulila ng anak na biktima ng dahas ng estado. Hindi biro ang mga binitiwan niyang salita na larawan ng dalamhati at pagpupuyos sa desisyon ng korte kaugnay sa kaso ng pagpatay kay Jemboy. Ani Rodaliza, “Nararamdaman ko ngayon at ng pamilya ko ang sakit dahil inaasahan namin na anim silang mahahatulang may sala subalit kabaligtaran ang nangyari.”

Isang araw matapos ang pagbababa ng hatol ng korte, dagdag ni Rodaliza sa isang press briefing sa Senado: “Tila pinatay nila nang paulit-ulit ang anak ko dahil sa desisyon ng korte sa anim na pulis. Napakasakit nito para sa aming pamilya. Napakahirap talagang makakuha ng katarungan kung ikaw ay mahirap.”

Ramdam ko sa aking kaibuturan ang sakit na nararamdaman ni Rodaliza. Nakikita ko sa kanya ang wangis ng sarili kong ina.

Marami pang pamilya, hindi lamang ang kababaihan, ang dumaranas ng iba’t ibang uri ng pisikal, emosyunal at mental na karamdaman dahil sa matitinding dagok sa buhay. Maaaring ito ay aksidente, bunga ng pagkakasakit, mga maling desisyon sa buhay, mga suliraning hindi hinaharap nang mabuti o anupaman.

Subalit kung ang trahedya ay bunga ng patakarang ipinapataw ng estado sa mamamayan, tulad halimbawa ng pambobomba sa mga komunidad sa kanayunan, ekstrahudisyal na pamamasalang, sapilitang pagkawala, at iba pang paglabag sa mga karapatang pantao, para lamang malubos ang sabwatan, lansakang pagyurak sa mga saligang karapatan at para lamang may masabing may ginagawa ang pulisya at militar, hindi ito kailanman magiging katanggap-tanggap. Marapat itong tutulan at labanan.

Ang pagpaslang sa kanilang bunso at ang tila kawalan ng hustisya para kay Jemboy ang nagbubukas sa pintuan para kay Rodaliza at kanyang pamilya para humanay sa mamamayang naggigiit ng katarungan, kapayapaan at pagbabago ng sistema ng ating lipunan. Hindi dapat pahintulutang mamayagpag ang pwersa ng estado sa paggawa ng krimen laban sa mamamayan, ang inhustisya at kawalang-pananagutan sa mga kaso ng paglabag sa mga saligang karapatan ng mamamayan. Laging may paraan at angkop na entabaldo para lumaban na kasama ang nakikibakang taumbayan.

Ang mga inang naghahangad ng magandang bukas sa mga anak ay hindi dapat manahimik. Bagkus ay kailangang maging dagdag na tinig para sa hustisya, kaunlaran at pagbabago ng lipunan. #

= = = = =

Ang pitak na ito ay una sa serye ng awtor para ngayong Marso, buwan ng kababaihan.

Rights workers reveal AFP desecration of slain NPA fighters’ corpses

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Human rights groups accused the Armed Forces of the Philippines of desecrating the remains of seven alleged New People’s Army (NPA) members killed in a firefight in Balayan, Batangas last Sunday.

In a series of alerts, Karapatan-Southern Tagalog and Tanggol Batangan said the faces of some of the casualties could no longer be identified by family members at a funeral parlor.

“A grieving mother, in between sobs, identified her daughter only by her distinct stitch marks from a previous caesarean delivery. Half of her daughter’s face was broken as if smashed and banged,” Karapatan said.

The groups also accused the AFP and the Philippine National Police of violating International Humanitarian Law and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines by not allowing the corpses to be put inside freezers or embalmed.

They said the corpses already started to rot as these were made to lie on the floor of Romy’s Funeral Parlor for two days.

The groups said the government troopers did not only violate the IHL but the Department of Health’s sanitary protocols.

“Kitang kita sa mga labi ng biktima ang mga bakas ng pambababoy, na hindi gagawin ng sinuman na may makataong pag-iisip,” Karapatan said.

(Signs of desecration are clear, an act that will not be committed by someone humane.)

The seven still unidentified alleged NPA members were slain after soldiers from the 59th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, augmented by Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force troopers, attacked their encampment last December 17.

A government trooper, reportedly the commanding officer of a light reaction company of the Philippine Army, was also killed in the firefight, Kodao sources said.

Lt. Col. Hector Estolas, 2nd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office chief, said three other army troopers were wounded in the clash, The Manila Times reported.

Karapatan and Tanggol Batangan also accused the military and police for harassing family members and paralegals who tried to recover the corpses from the funeral parlor.

The wake of one of the casualties was also visited by the military to interrogate the family Karapatan said was an act of intimidation.

The groups said some of the NPA corpses are schedules for autopsy by experts. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

NPA ambush kills 5, belies gov’t claim Quezon is NPA-free

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The New People’s Army (NPA) in Quezon Province announced its ambush of government soldiers in Tagkawayan town last Friday, adding its military action belies government claims the area is now free of communist influence.

Apolonio Mendoza Command (AMC)-NPA Quezon spokesperson Cleo del Mundo said the firefight started at about 7 o’clock in the morning of September 1 and lasted for more than an hour.

“Five were killed among the military while four others were wounded. The enemies fled the fighting, enabling the Red Army to safely withdraw,” del Mundo said.

“The Red Fighters were able to take five high-caliber firearms,” he added.

The soldiers and their auxiliary forces were conducting patrol operarions when ambushed by the NPA.

Meanwhile, 85th Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army (85th IBPA) commander Lt. Col. Joel Jonson said the five fatalities were elements of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU).

The names of the fatalities were not announced by the military.

Jonson did not mention if the wounded were soldiers or paramilitary.

He added that the incident is a big challenge to their declaration of “Stable Internal Peace and Security” in Tagkawayan and in the entire Quezon Province.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police and Quezon governor Angelina Tan declared last June 15 that the province is free of NPA influence.

Del Mundo however said their successful ambush is proof that the NPA remains in Quezon due to the popular support of the people.

The spokesperson added that the ambush is their punishment of the 85th IBPA’s human rights violations against civilians who suffered tortures, harassments and killings.

Del Mundo said the NPA in the province has documented around 20,000 cases of rights violations under the Rodrigo Duterte government.

“We will not be defeated…because our revolution is just,” del Mundo added.

Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) chief information officer Marco Valbuena lauded the AMC for its victory.

“The successful ambush in Quezon, following the recent tactical offensives in Negros and Masbate, clearly demonstrates the robust armed resistance being waged by the NPA against all-out state terrorism under the US-Marcos fascist regime,” Valbuena said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Pathologist raises alarm over police visits

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The country’s top forensic pathologist revealed feeling harassed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) for visits to her office in connection with her autopsy on 17 year olds Jemboy Baltazar and Kian delos Santos.

Dr.  Raquel Fortun said members of the Navotas PNP visited her in relation to her autopsy of Baltazar killed by their men last August 2 and the Caloocan PNP in relation to the bullet she extracted from delos Santos’ cadaver in August 2017.

“Yes, you know where to find me,” Fortun said of the police visits, adding she is just putting out the information “for whatever protection this disclosure could offer.”

The pathologist then asked his X (formerly Twitter) followers to make some noise if something happens to her.

“I take some comfort in that. Thanks,” she added.

Fortun also revealed in a series of tweets since the weekend that public prosecutors from the Department of Justice have visited her, but gave no further details.

She however asked, “Wasn’t it your job to investigate? Why harass me for my findings?”

Fortun had been conducting autopsies on presumed victims of extrajudicial killings by the police and the military upon requests by their respective families.

Aside from police killing victims, Fortun has also conducted autopsies on victims of the so-called Bloody Sunday Massacre victims in Cavite and Batangas in March 21, National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultants Randall Echanis and Ericson Acosta, Lumad teacher Chad Booc, among others.

Counterfoil to impunity

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) expressed “serious concern” about Fortun’s warning, saying the threat must only be related to the pathologist’s autopsy on Baltazar.

“The manner of the visit points to intimidation,” BAYAN president Renato Reyes Jr. in a statement Tuesday said.

Reyes said the police cannot ask Fortun to disclose the autopsy findings because these can only be given to the victim’s family who requested for the procedure.

“Only the victim’s family can authorize the public disclosure of the autopsy findings. The PNP should know this basic procedure,” Reyes added.

BAYAN said Fortun’s work is important for human rights in the Philippines as it serves as a counterfoil to impunity.

“She must be allowed to perform her work without police interference and intimidation,” the group said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Mission reports AFP responsible for Fausto massacre, other killings

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A national solidarity mission reported government soldiers were responsible for the killing of the Fausto family and other farmers in Negros Island.

Visiting Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental last Thursday, June 22, to independently probe into the recent killings of farmers in the province, Kabataan Party Rep. Raoul Manuel and members of progressive organizations said state forces are committing and actively covering up human rights violations in the province.

In a press conference Friday, the mission said it found a “similar pattern” in the killing of four members of the Fausto family last June 14 and the killing of farmer Crispin Tingal last May 3.

READ: CHR urged to probe killing of a farmer in Negros Occidental

“It (was) a culmination of a series of harassment, destruction of properties, violation of domicile, illegal search and red tagging that was similarly inflicted on the Tingal family who barely escaped a pattern of attacks, from red tagging to massacre,” the mission said.

In their visit to Himamaylan, the mission reported that the military and the paramilitary with blocked out nametags tried to block their way to Barangay Buenavista but said they were able to document several human rights violations committed by the military and the police.

The mission said the residents reported there have been at least three incidents of frustrated killings; three incidents of illegal arrest; a case of enforced disappearance; threats, harassment and intimidation; violation of domicile; destruction of livelihood; use of public space for military purpose; endangerment of civilian populace; attacks on schools and disruption of classes for two weeks after a military attack; and indiscriminate firing and red tagging.

‘None of it new’

The mission’s press conference and announcement came a day after Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Lacson, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police (PNP) held their own press conference announcing they have witnesses to prove the New People’s Army (NPA) was responsible for the killing of the Fausto family.

Himamaylan City police chief Reynante Jomocan said they have “judicial affidavits” from witnesses claiming 15 armed men killed the family, led by an alleged NPA squad leader.

Mission participant and Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) chairperson Ariel Casilao however dismissed the police and military’s claims, saying reports on the ground say otherwise.

“Stories of coercion, in which witnesses are forced to testify and follow a script provided by the PNP to paint the NPA as perpetrators, have been shared with us. And sadly, none of this is new: what happened to the victims and survivors of the Sagay massacre—blamed for the very attack perpetrated on them—is a testament to the PNP’s same old modus operandi,” Casilao said.

Mission participant and Iglesia Filipina Independiente Negros Occidental Bishop Virgilio Amihan said they are heartbroken by the growing numbers of widows and orphans due to “the devastating impacts of extrajudicial killings” that affect families and communities in his diocese.

“As shepherd of the flock, we call to bring it comes of the brutal and barbaric killings of the Fausto’s and put the perpetrators behind bars to end the widespread EJK in the Island of Negros,” said Bishop Amihan.

The Faustos were IFI members.

Official investigations

Kabataan Party Representative Raoul Manuel announced that the Makabayan bloc has filed on June 19 House Resolution 1091 calling on the House Committee on Human Rights to investigate the massacre of the Fausto family.

Manuel said that the resolution is the first filed by Makabayan on the civilian killings in Negros, saying that even without a formal declaration, martial law is practically in effect in the militarized areas of the island.

The mission also urged the Commission on Human Rights, the House of Representatives and the Philippine Senate to conduct an impartial investigation of reported human rights violations in Negros.

“(We call) for an end to “the relentless attacks on farming communities not only in Himamaylan and Kabankalan but in the whole Negros Island,” the mission said.

“Families experience loss of livelihood, severe trauma, especially among children, and a grave violation of their freedom of association. Farmers who cultivate the land and feed the nation deserve peace, justice and the right to enjoy the fruits of their labor,” it added.

Bishop Amihan added that the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) must resume peace negotiations.

“Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law violations in the GRP-NDFP armed conflict create many victims…Let us move forward to the negotiating table and resume the resume the GRP-NDFP Peace Talks,” Amihan urged. # (Raymund B. Villanueva, in Bali, Indonesia)

Reds to try killers of NDFP peace consultant Posadas

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The New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Island announced the killers of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant Rogelio Posadas will be tried by the “Revolutionary People’s Court” in the island.

NPA-Negros’ Apolinario Gatmaitan Command spokesperson Maoche Legislador in a statement Saturday, June 10, said cases related to Posadas’ killing by the military have been filed in its own tribunal.

Legislador said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC) are the respondents in the case.

“[T]here is no one else capable of cruel acts against revolutionary forces and the people but the mercenary and barbaric (AFP), (PNP) and (NTFELCAC) under the command of (President Ferdinand) Marcos Jr.,” Legislador said.

The Visayas Command (VisCom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced last April 23 that Posadas died in a firefight with soldiers of the 62nd Infantry Battalion in Barangay Santol, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental last April 20.

READ: Missing NDFP peace consultant killed by AFP

Posadas, however, was announced missing as early as April 19 by the NDFP in Negros, along with companion Kyngrace Marturillas and motorcycle drivers Denald Mailen and Renel delos Santos.

Legislador said bystanders who witnessed the incident claimed a white van waylaid two motorcycles, afterwhich armed men wearing bonnets forced the drivers and passengers into the van.

He added Posadas was assassinated by the military in yet another fake encounter and that Marturillas and the drivers remain to be victims of enforced disappearances.

What’s a ‘People’s Court?’

Unlike Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) municipal and regional trial courts that are headed by a single judge, People’s Courts are usually composed of several members who try and decide on the cases as a tribunal similar to GRP’s Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan and the Supreme Court.

Respondents, whether present or in absentia, are assigned defenders as in regular courts.

Understandably, most trials are held clandestinely but CPP, NPA, NDFP supporters as well as civilians are allowed as observers.

In earlier interviews with Kodao, NDFP representatives explained that anyone, including civilians, may file complaints with the CPP and the NPA.

Cases that warrant the formation of a People’s Court often try serious cases, such as cattle rustling, land grabbing, rape, murder and “counter-revolutionary activities” that lead to the capture or death of CPP, NPA and NDFP members, the representatives explained.

Penalties on guilty verdicts range from the offender’s banishment from a certain place to death, such as in the case of former NPA leader Romulo Kintanar who was executed in November 2003 while having lunch at a Quezon City restaurant by a NPA team.

The CPP said People’s Courts are part of its governance of territories it has established in its more than five decades of armed struggle. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

NDFP denounces ‘shamelessly inhuman’ treatment of Casilao

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‘Only real terrorists parade their captives in public for humiliation and ignominy that is a throwback to the dark ages of uncivil conduct’

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) protested the labelling given to one of its peace consultants arrested in Malaysia early this month and deported to the Philippines yesterday, April 17.

In a statement, NDFP Negotiating Panel interim chairperson Juliet de Lima said the treatment given to Casilao by the Philippine National Police (PNP) was “totally unacceptable” as it did not only violate his basic human rights and the international humanitarian law but was also “shamelessly inhuman.”

Casilao was marched by full battle-geared PNP personnel as he alighted from a van through several journalists at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, taken to the departure area and flown to Davao City Monday afternoon.

The PNP also repeatedly described Casilao as one of the top leaders of the “communist terrorist group,” a police and military labelling of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA) vehemently rejected by the said groups.

De Lima said it is the PNP, not Casilao, who are the real terrorists.

“Only real terrorists parade their captives in public for humiliation and ignominy that is a throwback to the dark ages of uncivil conduct,” de Lima fumed.

She reminded the Philippine government that Casilao has the universal right to be presumed innocent until his case is heard in an impartial court of law under due process. 

“He has the right to legal counsel and other basic civil rights that should be observed by civilized systems,” she added, echoing a point earlier made by Casilao’s brother and former Anakpawis Representative Ariel Casilao on Monday.

Harassment victim

The PNP claimed Eric Jun is the secretary of the CPP’s Southern Mindanao Regional Committee who has recently been elected to the party’s Central Committee.

The police said he has existing warrants of arrest for murder, kidnapping and serious illegal detention, and attempted murder charges and carries a P5.4 million bounty on his head.

The NDFP however said Casilao was a victim of constant harassment upon his designation as the second nominee of the Anak ng Bayan party in 2004.

He has decided to go underground to seek sanctuary with the masses since, the NDFP added.

He then served as an NDFP consultant for the Reciprocal Working Committee on the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio Economic Reforms (CASER) in Southern Mindanao, the group said.

The NDFP-Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) has approved free land distribution for poor farmers under the social and economic reform substantive agenda when former GRP President Rodrigo Duterte decided to walk away from formal peace negotiations in 2017.

Several NDFP peace consultants have since been brutally murdered and arrested under suspiciously uniform charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, murder, arson, and kidnapping and serious illegal detention such as those Casilao are being charged with.

“The Negotiating Panel demands that his (Casilao) life, security and safety are guaranteed also in compliance with the binding mandates of the GRP-NDFP Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) and the GRP-NDFP Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law  (CARHRIHL),” de Lima said, citing the formal agreements that should exempt peace consultants and staff from arrest and harm. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
 

Alleged CPP leader in Mindanao arrested in Malaysia; brother expresses concern for his safety

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PNP chief Azurin to hold press conference on arrest instead of shabu controversy

A former congressman said he is “very worried” for the safety of his brother detained by Malaysian authorities at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) since Sunday afternoon, April 16.

In an urgent appeal, former Anakpawis Representative Ariel Casilao said his brother Eric Jun Casilao was arrested in Malaysia and is in the process of being transferred to the custody of Philippine Embassy officials.

Ariel said he was informed by Eric’s lawyers of the latter’s arrest.

Sources said that Philippine National Police (PNP) General Rodolfo Azurin and Police Brig. Gen, Jerry Bearis are set to hold a press briefing at Terminal 2 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila at 10 o’clock in the morning.

The PNP chief was reportedly originally scheduled to hold a press conference this morning regarding 49 PNP officers and personnel involved in alleged trafficking of nearly a ton of shabu found in Manila late last year.

Azurin’s name was mentioned by the chief of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group as having been knowledgeable in reported cover-up operations.

The police media advisory alleged that Eric is the secretary of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Ariel however said Eric’s lawyers were denied information regarding details of his deportation to the Philippines.

“I now fear for his life and safety, while he is in the custody of Philippine officials as they have refused to give his legal representatives relevant information regarding his current status,” the former legislator said.

“I believe that Eric has the right to have access to his lawyers, at every stage of his being in the custody of authorities, and especially in the duration of his deportation and travel from Malaysia to the Philippines, I am very worried of his safety,” Ariel added.

He called on both the Malaysian and Philippine authorities to respect and ensure the protection of Eric’s rights under international and national human rights instruments, “whatever the charges or accusations against him.”

In an interview by ANC’s Jobert Navallo, Ariel said Eric may be in the process of seeking political asylum abroad due to incessant harassments by State authorities against their entire family.

Navallo in a tweet added that Eric was already deported to the Philippines this morning. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

PNP arrests another trade unionist in Quezon City

/in /by

By Joseph Cuevas

Progressive organizations condemned the arrest of another labor union organizer and called for his immediate release.

Benjamin ‘Banjo’ Cordero, chairperson of Sandigan ng mga Manggagawa sa Quezon City, was arrested by non-uniformed police officers at around 11:40 pm Tuesday night, October 25.

A warrant of arrest for frustrated homicide was issued by San Mateo (Rizal) Regional Trial Branch 77 on October 24 was issued to Cordero and four others.

The labor organizer said the four other respondents are unknown to him.

Cordero was brought to Batasan Police Station 6 and temporarily detained as of this writing.

In a Facebook Live post from Tudla Productions, Cordero said that his arrest is part of the government’s attacks to silence union organizers and activists.

Cordero’s lawyer Louie Santos said his client did not receive a copy of the complaint for him to reply.

The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) condemned Cordero’s arrest coming as it did mere weeks after fellow labor organizers Kara Taggaoa of KMU International and PISTON leader Larry Balbuena were arrested and detained on charges of direct assault.

“The State has long utilized this scheme, arbitrarily filing trumped-up charges against activists then illegally arresting and detaining them,” KMU said.

The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) also called for the dropping of the charge against Cordero and asked help to raise funds for his bail amounting to P72,000.

Cordero is the Campaign Officer of the Urban Poor Coordinating Council in NCR and the Labor Sector Representative of the Quezon City Development Council.

He is also a former Makabayan-Quezon City coordinator and student activist from Polytechnic University of the Philippines where he served as college student council chairperson in early 2000s. #