THE three young Cebuano activists who were arrested in Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental last month were released from detention yesterday afternoon, after a prosecutor dismissed the complaint against them.

“Who’s a liar now?” said Dennis Abarintos of Karapatan-Central Visayas, referring to the military’s allegations that those arrested were lying about what they did in Zamboanguita.

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Released from the municipal jail were Carla Alvarico of the College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), Karlo Cabahug of the University of San Carlos-Student
Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (USC-Stand) and Glen Filamer of the League of Filipino Students (LFS).

The 79th Infantry Batallion of the Philippine Army arrested them in an alleged encounter between the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and the military in Sitio Pulang Yuta, Barangay Mayabon, Zamboangita.

An alleged companion of the three arrested activists, Radin Carpentero of Anakpawis and Kabataan party-list, was killed. He was brought home to Sitio Tayong, Talamban, Cebu a few days after.

Lt. Col. Oscar Lasangue, chief of the AFP’s 3rd Civil Relations Group, said in an earlier interview the 79th IB proceeded to Sitio Pulang Yuta because of reports that the NPA was supposed to hold a “youth sector conference” in the area.

But Abarintos, in a text message, said the three (Alvarico, Cabahug and Filamer) maintained that Carpentero was not their companion and the alleged encounter was a separate incident.

The activists’ release from detention came two weeks after Nathaniel Archival and Patrick Torres of USC-Stand, Paul Murillo of CEGP, Regletto Imbong of Anakbayan-Cebu and Renil Oliva of Kabataan party-list urged the military and the police to free them.

Backlash

The five warned of massive petitions and protests if the authorities continue to detain the three and tag them as Communist rebels.

Central Command Information Officer Wilson Feria, when sought for comment, said the charges were filed based on the evidence gathered against the three student leaders.

Feria said the three were turned over to the police for the filing of the case after their arrest.

If the arrested student leaders will decide to file counter-charges against the arresting officers, Feria said the Centcom will provide legal support to the military officers.