72 Southern Tagalog Activists Charged with Common Crimes

In August, 27 activists in Southern Tagalog were charged with arson, destruction of property and conspiracy to commit rebellion in relation to the burning down of a telecommunication company’s cell site in Lemery, Batangas.

Just recently, warrants of arrest were issued this time against 72 activists accused of multiple murder and frustrated murder in connection with the New People’s Army (NPA) raid in Puerto Galera, Mindoro Oriental last March 3. 2006.

BY BULATLAT
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

In August, 27 activists in Southern Tagalog were charged with arson, destruction of property and conspiracy to commit rebellion in relation to the burning down of a telecommunication company’s cell site in Lemery, Batangas.

Judge Tomas Leynes of the Calapan City Regional Trial Court issued the warrants.

Atty. Remigio Saladero, legal counsel of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU-May First Movement) was the first to be arrested on Oct. 23. That day, he was brought to Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba City, Laguna. The next day, Saladero was transferred to Calapan City District Jail.

On Oct. 24, Nestor San Jose, a co-accused in the burning down of Globe cell site, was nabbed by state security agents in Teresa town in Rizal.

Based on the brief sent by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Southern Tagalog, about 30 of the 72 accused are active leaders, and members of progressive people’s organizations in Southern Tagalog.

In the October 27 court proceeding regarding Atty. Saladero’s case, Provincial Prosecutor Josephine Caranzo-Olivar admitted that no preliminary investigation was conducted.

The same day, Crispin Zapanta, chairperson of Bayan Muna chapter in Antipolo City, Rizal, who is also among the 72 accused was arrested in Antipolo City.

Besides Saladero, San Jose and Zapanta, other respondents include Arman Albarillo, secretary general of Bayan-ST; Bayani Cambronero, Bayan Muna regional coordinator; Orly Marcellana, secretary general of Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (Kasama-TK) and chairperson of Bayan-ST; Romeo Legaspi, chairperson of PAMANTIK-KMU and chairperson of Anakpawis regional chapter.

Charged in the Globe case and also included in the Mindoro complaint are Rolando Mingo, president of the Southern Tagalog Region Transport Sector Organization, (STARTER) and vice president of Pinagkaisang Lakas ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON); Dina Captillo, spokesperson of Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights)-Batangas; Renato Alvarez, chairperson of Katipunan ng mga Magbubukid sa Kabite (Kamagsasa-Ka); and, Romeo Aguilar, secretary general of the Kalipunan ng mga Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) in Rizal.

Also named respondents are Doris Cuario, secretary general of Karapatan-Southern Tagalog; Helen Asdolo, secretary general of GABRIELA- Southern Tagalog; Rogelio Galit, spokesperson of Kamagsasaka-Ka; Luz Baculo, secretary general of Pamantik and national council member of KMU; Pedro Santos Jr., secretary general of Anakbayan-Southern Tagalog and regional coordinator of Kabataan Party, among others.

Bayan-ST condemned the Inter-Agency Legal Action Group (IALAG) for filing trumped-up charges against activists. The group said the filing of trumped up charges against activists is part of the Arroyo government’s counter-insurgency program.

Last week, the Human Rights Watch condemned the arrest and detention of Saladero.
The Human Rights Watch recalled several other cases that ‘bear similarities to Saladero’s arrest” which the courts have subsequently declared illegal.

The group cited the case of the Tagaytay Five- Riel Custodio, Axel Pinpin, Aristides Sarmiento, Enrico Ybanez and Michael Masayes – advocates of farmers’ rights and the case of Pastor Berlin Guerrero of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP). (Bulatlat.com)