BAYAN Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate denounced the raids that were conducted in the offices of some groups in the cities of Bacolod and Escalante late last week and slammed both the army and police claiming the raids were mere harassment of progressive groups critical of the government's policies.
At least 55 people, 15 of whom minors, were rounded up after combined operatives of the Philippine Army's 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO), and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) raided the offices of various progressive groups in the cities of Bacolod and Escalante between late Thursday afternoon and Friday last week.
Zarate also claimed the raid was conducted at night before the long holiday weekend so as to ensure the courts are closed and the charges will not be immediately challenged.
He further questioned the conduct of the raid pointing out as to why the search warrant was taken from Quezon City, adding the evidences recovered in the sites are all "planted."
However, 3ID spokesperson, Army Captain Cenon Pancito III, in a press conference said the raids were conducted after receiving numerous intelligence reports that the offices were stockpiling firearms and ammunition.
Some of the intelligence reports were also noted to have come from former NPA members who surrendered in Escalante City last September.
Pancito also said that the offices were allegedly being used as a recruitment facility for the New People's Army (NPA).
The authorities then sought a search warrant from Executive Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 89.
The combined operatives then raided the offices owned by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Gabriela, Anakpawis and National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) in Barangays Bata, Taculing, and 33 in Bacolod City on Thursday, followed by another raid in Escalante City.
Pancito noted most of the firearms they seized are from Barangay Bata, wherein they confiscated a total of 32 firearms of different calibers, 130 rounds of ammunition, and five grenades.
They also identified 40 of the individuals they arrested as members of the NPA, with some of them noted to be residents of other provinces such as Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor.
The apprehended individuals are presently detained at Camp Alfredo Montelibano in Barangay Estefania, while the minors were handed over to the city's social welfare and development office.
Authorities also seized several subversive documents. When members of the media were allowed to enter the raided offices on Thursday night, it was noticed some of the books being kept by the suspects have the logo of the National Democratic Front (NDF), the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Both the police and army stated the arrested individuals come from different areas in Negros Occidental [and] are undergoing "combat-related training and indoctrination."