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Monday, September 20, 2004
Arrest of rebel 'questionable', militants say
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Militants are not through dogging the moves of Task Force Davao chief Lt. Col. Eduardo del Rosario, this time accusing him of taking hostage a rebel leader and his family.
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Southern Mindanao accused del Rosario of violating the human rights of a leader of the New People's Army (NPA) identified as Ka Pipoy, real name Manuel Ramos, and his family on September 16.
Bayan spokesperson Jeppie Ramada said that based on the report of human rights group Karapatan, del Rosario's men "arrested Ka Pipoy, including his wife and two-year old daughter in a far-flung barangay in Marilog."
Ramada said the arrest is "questionable," saying there were no police officers present at the time.
"The TFD must know their position when it comes to arresting any alleged lawbreakers. The law states that only police officers are allowed to arrest, or at the time of arrest, police officials must be present," Ramada said.
Ramada believes Ka Pipoy's arrest was made as part of del Rosario's desire to put another militant leader, Alvin Luque, behind bars.
Since Ka Pipoy is Luque's co-accused in the rebellion case, del Rosario will use him against Luque, by "hostaging Ka Pipoy's family," Ramada said.
Del Rosario said the arrest of Ka Pipoy was legal and that the rebel leader in fact has a string of warrants of arrest for several criminal charges.
He added that they were merely acting on the information given them regarding the whereabouts of Ka Pipoy.
Del Rosario also denied including Ka Pipoy's wife and daughter in the arrest.
He said the wife voluntarily went along with the arresting soldiers carrying their daughter with her.
The Army colonel said if he would have his way he would not allow Ka Pipoy's family to come along.
"Dagdag pa naming pakainin yan eh," del Rosario said. (They would be additional burden.)
Incidentally, it was not the TFD that arrested Ka Pipoy, but the members of the 73rd Infantry Battalion.
Ka Pipoy is now detained at the army camp in Malagos.
(September 20, 2004 issue)
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