AUTHORITIES on Tuesday, July 10, turned over to the trial court in Bukidnon province the two alleged high-ranking members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) who were arrested the previous week.
Maria Limbaga Unabia, alias Del, and Francis Madria, alias Kiang, are facing charges of murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder.
Unabia, who hails from Koronadal, South Cotabato, and Madria, who is from Malaybalay City in Bukidnon, were arrested during an inter-agency law enforcement operation in Barangay Lagao, General Santos City on July 4.
They were served with arrest warrants issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Bukidnon.
The operation was conducted by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (Nica) 12, and Joint Task Force in General Santos City (JTF-Gensan).
Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) spokesperson Major Ezra Balagtey said the rebels were arrested after an intelligence report stating that communist rebels will converge in an undisclosed place in General Santos City to assess and plan for the ouster of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Aside from the accused, Balagtey said 11 persons were also arrested and were charged with violation of Presidential Decree 1829 or Obstruction of Justice after they tried to prevent authorities from arresting the two wanted rebels.
The two suspects are currently detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Bukidnon, while the 11 other individuals are detained at the General Santos Police Office pending a commitment order from the court.
Balagtey said the 11 people were granted temporary liberty by Judge Emilio Quianzon Jr. of the RTC in General Santos City after Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate and Ali Macalintal of rights group Karapatan posted bail on their behalf.
"The PNP, assisted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) legal team, is on the process of applying for issuance of search warrant to allow a forensic test on the electronic gadgets confiscated from the 11 persons," Balagtey said.
Eastmincom commander Lt. General Benjamin Madrigal earlier directed all his subordinate units to intensify security operations, following the plan of the communist groups for a revolutionary movement and to oust president Duterte.