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Thursday, September 23, 2004
Bayan Muna leader giving aid to rebels
By Ben O. Tesiorna
* Information from "Ka Pipoy" could have been extracted "under duress," says Dr. Shalom Lorenzana, Bayan Muna secretary general
* Says TFD chief is just trying to divert attention from the HR cases filed against him
BAYAN Muna secretary general for Southern Mindanao Shalom Lorenzana on Wednesday denied giving aid, in form of cash and mobile phones, to the communist rebels as alleged by a captured rebel in his affidavit submitted before the court.
Lorenzana, who ran and lost in the council race last May, condemned what he called "a grand design" of the military to link progressive organizations with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) in an effort to destroy their image.
"It is a desperate attack against progressive organizations like Bayan Muna who are against the policies of the State that are anti-poor and anti-people," Lorenzana said.
Captured rebel leader Manuel Ramos alias "Ka Pipoy," in his sworn affidavit, said Lorenzana allegedly met with him and donated cash and cellular phones as aid for their operations.
Lorenzana said he has yet to get a copy of "Ka Pipoy's affidavit but said that whatever information the captured rebel have stated in affidavit could have been extracted "under duress."
He said they would have to wait for any developments before making their own move. Lorenzana instead challenged Col. Edurado del Rosario, Task Force Davao chief, to face the string of criminal cases filed against him in relation to various human rights abuses that he and his men allegedly committed in the past.
"Ang tingin kasi namin diyan sa nangyayari ngayon is that Col. del Rosario is on an offensive nang sa ganun ay mawala ang atensyon sa kanya at sa mga kaso laban sa kanya," Lorenzana said.
He also challenged the TF Davao commander not to be selective in running after those they perceived are supporting the communists their alleged front organizations like the Bayan Muna.
"Why not run after Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and all the others who are supporting Bayan Muna? Bakit kami lang ang pinag-iinitan nila?" Lorenzana said.
Col. del Rosario, however, denied Lorenzana's accusation.
He said these militant leaders are only trying to save their own skin since "Ka Pipoy" knew a lot about the militant leaders' illegal activities.
"Natatakot sila ngayon na baka bumaligtad si `Ka Pipoy' at sabihin lahat ng nalalaman nito tungkol sa kanilang mga gawain," del Rosario said.
Del Rosario said Ka Pipoy admitted that aside from Lorenzana, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general Alvin Luque also met with him in the mountains during the 2001 elections and also donated some cash and mobile phones in his bid for the councilor race.
(September 23, 2004 issue)
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