MANILA – The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Thursday warned Karapatan and other militant groups to stop “donation drives” using the “abduct-surface-donate-release” (ASDR) scheme.
“Kahit ano pa ang sasabihin niyo, kayo-kayo na lang ang naniniwala sa sinasabi niyo sa inyong echo chamber mismo (Whatever you might say, you are the only ones believing your claims in your own echo chamber). NTF-ELCAC continues to gather evidences of your scamming activities and in due time, charges will be filed against you,” NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Joel Sy-Egco said in a statement.
The ASDR scheme involves claims that certain individuals are abducted by security forces and need funds to secure their immediate release.
In this regard, Egco said the three New People's Army (NPA) members captured in Sitio Malaglag, Barangay Lisap, Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro last month – Job David, Alia Encela, and Peter del Monte – are not detained and that they voluntarily submitted themselves to be in the custody of the military.
"They’re undergoing the processes of rebuilding their lives ruined by the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army - National Democratic Front) before joining their families and to mainstream society,” he said.
As this developed, former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Jerome Christopher David, the father of Job, has urged Karapatan to stop posting on social media claims that his son and two other companions are victims of abduction or enforced disappearance.
Commander of the 203rd Infantry Brigade, Brig. Gen. Randolph Cabangbang, also disclosed that the parents of David, Encela, and del Monte are contemplating legal action against Karapatan for continued harassment.
Cabangbang said he has discouraged their parents from filing a writ of amparo.
“Sabi ko, wala namang nakikinig sa (I told them, nobody’s listening to) Karapatan. Having said that, we’re consulting lawyers, we’re studying it,” he said.
He added that he is looking forward to turning over the three former rebels to their parents “safe and sound.”
“To Karapatan, hands off our families, hands off our children,” Cabangbang said.
Meanwhile, Egco, who is also Integrated Communications Office Center director designate, said the NTF- ELCAC’s National Secretariat, led by its executive director, Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., would support and assist the parents and the Army if and when legal charges are ready to be filed against Karapatan and other front organizations. (PNA)
