Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 28) – Joint police and military forces arrested 35 individuals claiming to be members of the Moro National Liberation Front or MNLF. They were allegedly engaging in illegal paramilitary training in Rizal, the Department of Interior and Local Government said on Monday.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año added that the suspects were also caught illegally discharging firearms and wearing military uniforms in a camp they set up in Brgy. Guinayang in San Mateo. Año also said the group led by a certain Lydia Panuelo had violated health protocols as well.
“Wearing of AFP and PNP uniforms by civilians is already a violation of the law. We will make sure that these people will be penalized,” Año said. “Pinababaklas ko na rin sa mga barangay officials at sa LGU ang mga illegal structures na tinayo nila sa lugar (I also told barangay officials and the local government unit to dismantle all the illegal structures put up by the group).”
Recovered from the operation were two caliber 45 pistols, ammunition, assorted army uniforms, five handheld radios, and a jungle knife.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police Calabarzon chief Brigadier General Felipe Natividad said a certain Deogenes Rodriguez promised eah member of the group P300,000 after their training “prior to deployment to Mindanao.”
Natividad added both the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are now validating if the suspects are indeed affiliated with MNLF.
The DILG cautioned the public against joining such groups and called everyone to report similar incidents.
“Sa ating mga kababayan, maging mapanuri po tayo sa mga sasalihang grupo. Huwag po basta-basta maengganyo sa mga pangako ng mga nanghihikayat na grupo,” Año said.
[Translation: I’m calling everyone to be vigilant in the groups we are joining with. Let us not be swayed with the promises of those inviting us to join.]
Año said the suspects are now detained at the San Mateo Municipal Police Station and cases for violation of Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, and usurpation of public authority are now being prepared for filing before the prosecutor’s office.
