Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2)— The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) denies that the arrested activists in simultaneous police raids on Thursday are members of its armed wing, the New People’s Army.
In a statement released Saturday condemning their arrest, the CPP said Malacañang made a “patently false claim” in saying that the activists are members of the NPA.
“This brazen lie aims to conceal the martial law crackdown on mass-based organizations,” the CPP said.
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar praised the police and the military on Friday for arresting around 60 members “of the communist terrorist group the New People’s Army” in Bacolod.
Andanar said authorities recovered assorted short caliber firearms, sub-machine guns, machine guns, live ammunitions, hand grenades, bladed weapons, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) flags, megaphones, microphones, and “voluminous subversive documents.”
“We decry any claim that they were planted by our law enforcement authorities as we have proof they were obtained through legal means,” he said. “We assert that any allegations that the raids conducted were a form of harassment are simply false and we have hard evidence secured to prove our argument.”
The activists, which include members of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NSFW), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Makabayan, KMU and Karapatan, were arrested after police searched offices of Gabriela, Bayan Muna and NSFW.
The search warrant was issued by Executive Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert, who Karapatan said was reported to be in a meeting with Metro Manila police chief BGen. Debold Sinas.
Among those in police custody, according to Karapatan are:
NSFW Secretary John Milton Lozande
NSFW leader Danny Tabura
NSFW leader Imelda Sultan
NSFW leader Lindy Perocho
KMP organizer Albert dela Cerna
KMU organizer Noly Rosales
Makabayan coordinator Romulo Bitoon Jr. and his wife Mermalyn Bitoon
Paghimutad media group Mary Anne Krueger
Karapatan-Negros member Proceso Quiatchon
Members affiliated with Teatro Obrero and Teatro Bungkal
“The law and the legal process has been weaponized against those who remain critical, done in cahoots with judges who use their positions to foment injustice. Our justice system has been subverted, with state forces partnering with all officials, through their ‘whole of nation approach,’” Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said in a statement.
Left-leaning groups have been routinely tagged by government officials as fronts for communist rebels — a charge that they have vehemently denied.
