Sunday, March 02, 2008 Farmer's house used as stopover, says military
IF THE military is to be believed, Flaviano Arante, the farmer whom the military allegedly snatched, admitted being an NPA sympathizer whose house rebels used for stopovers.
2nd Lt. Gary Dida, platoon leader of Bravo Company of the 61st Infantry Battalion, and Cpl. Michael Pelayo, squad leader of the group that brought Flaviano to the detachment, said Flaviano made the admission after having breakfast inside the camp last Jan. 26.
“We asked about his involvement with the CPP/NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army) of which he later revealed that he was utilized as a courier and informer and (they) even used his house as bahay bagsakan (stopover point),” they said in the affidavit submitted to the appellate court.
Details
But they said Arante was released immediately following that. He also signed an affidavit detailing that he was not harmed or coerced or threatened in any way.
The army still insists that it allowed Arante to go home even after his alleged admission.
Assistant Solicitor General John Emmanuel Madamba, in his Feb. 26 pleading to the Court of Appeals, said the army did not yet have sufficient basis to hold Arante and that “the military officers were still gathering evidence.”
“Since Arante admitted to being a member of the NPA and allowing his house to be used as a stopover of rebels and as a stocking area for their firearms, he may be held liable for rebellion, a continuing offense,” Madamba added.
Arante, according to his wife Carmen, hasn’t been seen since the military took him from his home in Magbinlod, Sta. Catalina, Oriental Negros, last Jan. 25.
A petition for the issuance of a writ of amparo was filed in his behalf, with the military getting ordered to appear before the appellate court.
Denial
Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado, the Cebu City-based Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command chief, is reiterating the denial in a separate affidavit submitted relative to the amparo proceedings.
In his affidavit before the appellate court, he said he ordered an investigation into Arante’s alleged disappearance after reading a news article that ran in Sun.Star Cebu last Feb. 16.
“I have caused to be issued a directive to the commanding general (of the) 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine Army, and 61st Infantry Battalion, 34th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, with information to the concerned unit in the area of responsibility where the incident allegedly took place for the purpose of establishing the circumstances of the alleged disappearance,” he said.
