CAPTURED. Rey Christian Sabado, one of the three members of the New People's Army captured in Las Navas, Northern Samar last Oct. 3. The Northern Samar Police Provincial Office on Friday (Oct. 11, 2019) denied the allegations of a left-leaning group that the captured rebels were physically abused. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army 20th IB)
TACLOBAN CITY -- The Northern Samar Police Provincial Office (NSPPO) has denied the allegation of a left-leaning group that three captured members of the New People's Army (NPA) were physically abused by authorities.
The police said there is no truth to the allegations hurled against them by the Katungod Sinirangan Bisayas (Rights Eastern Visayas) -Karapatan.
“In (the) light (of the need) to correct this malicious and fabricated statement of Karapatan, the NSPPO firmly stands that no single human right violation has been committed from the time the members of New People’s Army (were apprehended),” NSPPO said in a statement issued Friday.
On Oct. 3, the military arrested Rey Christian Sabado, Anton Mañoso, and Edwin Picson while conducting extortion activities in Las Navas, Northern Samar. They were turned over to the police custodial facility.
On Oct. 8, Karapatan issued a statement that the three NPA members were tortured and traumatized for suffering intense pain.
NSPPO belied the claims saying that the three rebels were brought by policemen to the Northern Samar Provincial Hospital for medical examination.
“The result presented by Dr. Hannah Grace Lucero certifies that the three are essentially normal at the time of the medical examination. This result clearly belies the claim of Karapatan that suspects were tortured and harassed,” the NSPPO statement said.
The military apprehended the three NPA members, acting on reports of extortion activities by the communist terrorist group in the villages of Quirino, San Miguel, and San Francisco in Las Navas town.
Government troops recovered from their possession firearms, explosives and documents that contain information linking NPA with front organizations and the list of business establishments targeted for their extortion activities.
“I assure the public that the rights of apprehended persons are being respected. Moreover, the public is enjoined to be watchful and vigilant against this kind of deceiving and treacherous propaganda to discredit government’s stand for continuous peace and development in Eastern Visayas and throughout the country as well,” said Northern Samar Police provincial director Col. Reynaldo Dela Cruz.
In a video released earlier by the Philippine Army’s 20th Infantry Batallion (IB), Sabado appealed to the front organization to stop malicious propaganda against the military and the police saying that the captured suspects are giving information to the military without being coerced.
The 20th IB earlier assured the family of the three NPA members that they are humanely treated under the law.
“The public should readily dismiss these social media postings of the terrorist-front organizations, as it is treacherously aimed at deceiving the populace and discrediting the government’s peace and development efforts,” the 20th IB said. (PNA)
