NPA Slams AFP for Arrest of Two Activist Leaders

BANGUED, Abra- The New People’s Army (NPA) branded the recent arrest by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) of two of its alleged top officers as a desperate and condemnable act.

BY BULATLAT.COM

In a press statement sent through e-mail, Diego Wadagan, spokesperson of the Agustin Begnalen Command of the NPA said, “The 17^th IB’s lack-luster performance in combat operations and humiliation in the recent NPA attack near their headquarters at Lagangilang, and the MIG’s [Military Intelligence Group] amateurish intelligence work have victimized Miss Bedaña and Miss Perez, both being innocent and hapless civilians whose physical conditions alone could hardly pass the NPA criteria for recruitment.” 

Evelyn Bedaña, staff member of the Solidarity of Peasants Against Exploitation (STOP-EX) in Ilocos and Josephine Perez, regional coordinator of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) in the Ilocos-Cordillera region were arrested by soldiers and intelligence operatives of the 5^th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army June 22 in Bakakeng, Baguio City. CEGP is an association of campus journalists. 

Armed Forces chief Gen. Narciso Abaya and Maj. Gen. Pedro Cabway Jr. presented Reyes and Bedaña to the media as high-ranking officers of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and NPA.  Bedaña is said to be the secretary of Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee (ICRC), while Perez is the alleged political officer of the ICRC’s Komiteng Larangang Gerilya Sinag.   

Charged with multiple murder, Perez 
and Bedana on their first court hearing day

Bedaña and Perez were charged with frustrated multiple murder.  They were accused of being responsible for the killings of renegade ex-priest Conrado Balweg, Mayor Teodoro Hernaez of Sta Lucia, Ilocos Sur; Mayor Clarence Benwaren of Tineg, Abra; the bombing of a telecommunications tower in Ilocos Sur; Marcos bust blast in Tuba, Benguet and the May 16 ambush on a contingent of the 17^th Infantry Battalion in Lagangilang, Abra. 

Wadagan said Bedaña and Perez were not included in the military’s list of those charged for the death of Balweg. He also said that the NPA did not claim responsibility for the death of Benwaren.

Both were also charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives.  In a press statement, Lt. Preme F. Monta, information officer of the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM), said they recovered a cal. 22 and a cal. 38 revolvers; two lbs. of C4; 12 non-electric blasting caps; a  blasting device; a tester; two timing devices; two meters of M-700 time fuse; five meters of commercial detonating cord; and voluminous subversive documents of high intelligence value.

However, the NPA spokesperson said it was all fabricated.  Wadagan said it would be impossible for Bedaña and Perez to carry all of those as the two were just walking when they were arrested.

In a protest action last July 1, more than 100 members of militant organizations picketed the Abra Regional Trial Court Branch 1 to demand the immediate release of Bedaña and Perez.

In a separate statement, Atty. Joselito Benedito, legal counsel of the accused, said that a motion for the cancellation of the warrant of arrest has been filed. He said the charges are based solely on intelligence reports and the prosecution failed to come up with witnesses and material evidence.

CEGP Ilocos Sur chairperson Nerissa Guzman added that the court should consider the health status of Perez considering that she is suffering from a chronic heart ailment and anemia while Bedaña is already more than 50 years old.                                                  Perez  and Bedana with Atty. Benedito (extreme right)

Meanwhile, Jose Cosido, national secretary general of the CEGP, expressed alarm over the military’s direct involvement in the assault against the campus press. “Josephine’s case adds to the list of attacks against fellow student journalists,” said Cosido, citing the killing of Benjaline Hernandez, the abduction of Loyd Wilson Sato and the arrest and detention of Ma. Cecilia San Luis, all of whom are CEGP prominent leaders.

Beverly Longid, executive director of Cordillera Human Rights Organization (CHRO), said: “This incident is a flagrant example of state-sponsored terrorism against nationalist, progressive and militant members of people’s organizations. This is an indication of the continuing and heightening state policy of persecuting organizations and individuals critical of the government.”  Bulatlat.com

Photos by Ace ALegre

Back to top

We want to know what you think of this article.