Court approves transfer of 38 of Morong 43 to PNP

THE court has approved a request of the military for the transfer of 38 of the 43 suspected New People’s Army (NPA) previously arrested in Morong, Rizal at Camp Crame in Quezon City while the remaining rebels will stay at a military camp.

Acting Presiding Judge Cerrado Cesar of Branch 78 of Regional Trial Court of Morong also agreed to have Elenor Carandang, Cherilyn Tawagon, Valentino Paulino, Jenilyn Pizarro and Jhon Mark Barrientos to remain at the military’s Second Infantry Division headquarters under the custody of Maj. Gen. Jorge Segovia.
The five suspected rebels decided to break away from the group to start a new life.

The commitment order for the 38 is addressed to the PNP Custodial Center Warden at Camp Crame.  Prior to their transfer, they are to undergo medical examinations.

The Philippine Army has been criticized for the arrest of the 43 NPA rebels, but it maintained the arrest was legitimate. The military has also earlier issued statements belying claims of human rights violations.

They were arrested by combined elements of the Second Infantry Division and the Police Regional Office 4 while in a meeting allegedly conducted for health workers in Morong Rizal on February 6, 2010. Most of the attendees at the meeting in Morong, Rizal were identified NPA members, serving as medical assistants of different guerrilla units in various NPA provincial committees.

Others are members of NPA’s Special Operations Group which carries out liquidation orders of the NPA. They are members of the NPA guerrilla units operating in Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Central Luzon and Visayas.

With the transfer of the groups custody to the PNP, the Philippine Army expressed confidence for the speedy resolution of the case. The military also said it would respect the order of the court, reiterating its commitment to uphold the legal processes and the rule of law. –Jefferson Antiporda, Manila Times