PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa clarified Thursday, February 1, that National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Rafael Baylosis was arrested for illegal possession of firearms, not because he has a standing warrant of arrest.
“’Yung pagka-aresto nya that was a product of intelligence operation and ‘yun nakita sya doon may dalang baril, inaresto. Kinasuhan sya ng illegal possession of firearm,” he said.
“Wala syang standing warrant of arrest ha according to CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) nagresearch sila, si Rafael Baylosis ay walang standing warrant of
arrest. Inaresto sya on the basis of illegal possession of firearm,” he added.
Dela Rosa made the clarification amid claims of the NDFP that the arrest was part of the government’s harassment against them.
“Panggigipit? Para hindi na sila gipitin huminto na sila sa panggigipit sa taumbayan, ‘yungn pangbwisit sa taumbayan, pagsunog ng mga equipment, pang harass sa mga tao, ihinto nila ‘yun,” he said.
A few hours earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said failure to arrest Baylosis would have been a "dereliction of duty."
Baylosis is the first NDFP consultant who was rearrested after President Rodrigo Duterte terminated the peace talks with the NDFP, political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), in December 2017.
Dela Rosa admitted that the CIDG has been monitoring Baylosis for being a member of the leftist group.
Baylosis was arrested on Wednesday around 3:45 p.m. at Aurora Boulevard corner Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City, along with Guillermo Roque, an alleged member of the New People’s Army (NPA) .
CIDG agents claimed they recovered two caliber .45 pistols, 14 ammunition and two magazines from Baylosis and Roque. (SunStar Philippines)