PNP Widens Dragnet

BY BULATLAT
Posted 7:05 p.m. Mar 14, 2006

Officers of the political organization Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New Patriotic Alliance) slammed today witness Jaime B. Fuentes and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for dragging the names of the group’s leaders into the list of supposed government destabilizers.

This came as the PNP presented Fuentes during the preliminary hearing yesterday of the Batasan 5. The witness, a self-confessed former member of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), accused Bayan and its member-organizations as legal organizations of the CPP/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP/NPA/NDFP).

In his affidavit, Fuentes claimed that upon his release from detention in 1986, he worked as chief security officer of Vicente Ladlad and Randal Echaniz, which enabled him to accompany them in meetings. The witness also claimed the two are members of the underground movement.

Fuentes said he witnessed the two in several meetings with 13 persons allegedly planning a 100-day campaign to overthrow the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration. The campaign, Fuentes said, would culminate on May 1, Labor Day.

In his statement emailed to media, Ladlad said he met Fuentes during the release of political detainees in 1986 but never heard from him since. “He has been suddenly resurrected by the government to play a part in the inquisition mainly directed against
the progressive parties, organizations and personalities,” Ladlad said

Ladlad said that all accusations against him are lies and fabrications. “The false charges are part and parcel of a badly scripted plot to persecute progressives and other people who are critical of the Arroyo government,” he said.

Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes said his group found the surfacing of Fuentes very suspicious. But Reyes said the allegations of the supposed witness are incredible and will not stand in court. “This is one more move to attack, harass and suppress the most effective and decisive force that vows to oust the president from Malacañang,” he said.

“We are concerned that the administration has embarked on a vilification campaign aimed at linking legal groups to the armed movement. This is dangerous because it makes us open targets for the military and police,” he said.

Gabriela Secretary General Emmi de Jesus said that the government is widening its dragnet.  “After attempting to repress and silence progressive party list organizations such as Bayan Muna (People First), Anakpawis (Toiling Masses), and Gabriela Women’s Party, it is now targeting mass-based people’s organizations. “Macapagal-Arroyo is running amuck because it has nowhere to turn to for support. This government is now totally isolated from the people,” she said. Bulatlat

The following list of names and their supposed affiliations was directly lifted from the affidavit of Fuentes:

1. Vicente Ladlad aka “Vic”
2. Randal Echanes aka “Lando” at “Ka Randy”
3. Rafael Baylosis aka “Ka Raffy”, External Liaison for Political Affairs of KMU
4. Satur Ocampoaka “Satur”, Party-List Representative of Bayan Muna
5. Teodoro Casiño aka Ka “Teddy”, Party-List Representative of Bayan Muna
6. Rafael Mariano aka Ka “Paeng”, Party-List Representative of Anakpawis
7. Liza Maza aka Ka “Liza”, Party-List Representative of Anakpawis
8. Crispin Beltran aka Ka “Bel”, Party-List Representative of Anakpawis
9. Carol Pagaduan-Araullo aka “Carol”, Chairwoman of Bayan
10. Renato Reyes aka “Nato”, General Secretary of Bayan
11. Joel Maglungsod aka Ka “Joel”, General Secretary of KMU
12. Danilo Ramos aka Ka “Daning”, Secretary General of KMP
13. Emy de Jesus aka Ka “Emy”, Secretary General of Gabriela
14. Rita Baua aka Ka “Rita”, International Department of Bayan
15. Rosemarie Lubi aka Ka “Tita”, Member Finance Committee of the CPP/NPA/NDF and Executive Director of “KODAO” Productions

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