DAVAO CITY – Human rights group Karapatan slammed the “illegal arrest” of the alleged high-ranking leader of the Communist Party of Philippines-New People’s Army Thursday saying he was an “agriculturist and a development worker” who was helping Lumad schools here.
Police and the military arrested Dominiciano Muya y Daungcay at 1:45 pm in a checkpoint in Mankilam, Tagum City of Davao del Norte Thursday while he was riding on a motorcycle.
Eastmincom chief, Lt. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, Ano, and Police Supt Roel Cagape of the Davao del Norte Provincial Office announced Muya’s arrest in a press conference Friday.
10th ID commander, Maj. Gen. Eduardo Año, said a caliber .45 pistol, a grenade, two mobile phones and documents were found in his possession.
The Armed Forces’ Eastern Mindanao Comand said Muya holds various high-ranking posts in the guerrilla organization and carries the nom de guerre Marco and Atoy.
It said Muya is “a former staff of the CPP/NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) and former secretary of Guerilla Front 18 of the Southern Mindanao Regional Party Committee (SMRC).”
Muya was implicated in the killing of a certain PO1 Marito Correos and PO1 Rey Mongaya Ejercito in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur last June 19, 2004 and 2LT Lucrecio Julampong Jr. in Barangay Bantawan, Baganga, Davao Oriental on June 14, 2009.
Meanwhile, Karapatan said that charges against Muya have been fabricated.
“The cases indicated in the information sheet against him are all fabricated, trumped-up charges related to his work as a development worker,” Hanimay Suazo, spokesperson of Karapatan said.
Suazo also said that the arrest of Muya was illegal.
“It was an illegal arrest. No warrant was served to him,” she said.
Suazo said that Muya is a consultant in “soil science in Salugpungan Learning Center in Talaingod which is also being attacked by the military.”
The Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP)-Southern Mindanao Region also claims Muya is its staff member.
RMP is one of the organizations that provides technical assistance to the Salugpungan Learning Center.
Año added that Muya will be sent to Bukidnon, Agusan and Tagum to face the charges against him.
