Tuesday, August 21, 2007 Police chief says Karapatan and NPA are one By Gil Alfredo B. Severino
NEGROS Occidental Provincial Police Director Rosendo Franco said Karapatan-Negros and other militant groups are New People's Army (NPA) members.
He said during the time that Jeofril Along and Michael Celeste were in their custody, Karapatan-Negros, among other militant groups demanded to him that the two must be turned over to them.
"I told them, no way!" he said, adding, "These two will be turned over to their rightful parents which I also did."
Franco added, his belief towards Karapatan-Negros and its allied groups also came after Along and Celeste reportedly confessed to him that they're members of the NPA.
"That's why on August 15, the reason why I called for a press conference is to put everything on record that these alleged community workers, Along and Celeste confessed privately that they were members of the NPA."
“I, therefore, say that Karapatan-Negros is also with NPA,” Franco stressed.
As to the question how Along and Celeste were able to reach the provincial police office without passing through the Manapla Police, Franco said, "Because it was the breakaway Revolutionary Proletarian Army - Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) that brought them here."
And, he said according to the RPA-ABB, Along and Celeste surrendered to them.
As to the alleged molestation against the two, Franco said, "The August 15 press conference inside my office will prove that Along and Celeste were unharmed. ABS-CBN cameras and recorders were very clear. Their TV crew were also here and they saw nothing in the bodies of Along and Celeste."
But in a press presentation made by Karapatan-Negros and Bayan of Along and Celeste, the two showed to the media the alleged bruises and contusions they sustained in various parts of their bodies caused by the alleged molestation of the RPAs against them.
This, as they claimed that members of the breakaway faction kicked and mauled them during their arrest in Manapla.
Franco, however said, "I don't know about their claims. For me, it's clear that on August 15, the two remained unhurt. I was only shocked that on August 17, there's another presscon made by Karapatan-Negros and Bayan and the two showed the alleged marks of molestation."
"What happened between August 15 and August 17 was already beyond Noppo's control. The two were already in the custody of their parents since there was no complaint filed against them anyway. The scene on August 17's press conference was already beyond my knowledge," Franco added.
But Franco still vowed to validate the claim of both Along and Celeste.
For their part, Victorino Sumulong, spokesman of the RPA-ABB, denied Along's and Celeste's claims.
In a statement, Sumulong said, "The two are lying!"®
