DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The court freed on Tuesday the alleged rebel leader who was arrested in a checkpoint here together with a consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
Roderick Mamuyac, along with NDF consultant, Ariel Arbitrario and driver Rosario Sindac, was accosted in at a military checkpoint in Barangay Sirawan, Toril. The Task Force Davao said they only acted on a tip from informants that there was a car with wanted criminals going their way.
But progressive organizations believed that it was the start of a move to rearrest the NDFP consultants.
A police report said a warrant with affidavits from a witness cites that alias “Coco” and Mamuyac “are one and the same person” under a criminal case signed and issued by Virginia Tejano Ang.
The Army also said that Mamuyac, alias Caloy, is the liaison officer of the New People’s Army Southern Regional Committee.
Mamuyac was taken in custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 11.
However, on Tuesday, the court found no sufficient evidence which identifies Mamuyac as an NPA member.
Kilusang Mayo Uno Southern Mindanao spokesperson Carlo Olalo said the charge against Mamuyac was dismissed by Judge Ang of Regional Trial Court-Branch 1 in Tagum City.
Olalo said event Mamuyac’s arrest was “illegal.”
“There was not warrant shown when they were flagged down in the checkpoint,” he said.
Olalo also said that Mamuyac was a labor organizer under the KMU in Compostela Valley since 2004.
He said Mamuyac, and Jun Sinday, who was also with him during the arrest were assigned by KMU to assist Arbitrario in the peace campaign.
“As a member of the Exodus for Justice and Peace alliance, we asked them to assist in peace forums where Arbitrario is,” he said.
“That is part of our effort to support the peace talks,” Olalo added.
In a protest action outside the Davao City Police Office on Wednesday morning, activists condemned Mamuyac’s arrest.
Olalo said they also expressed their concern that the police and the Army will target activists in its surveillance.
“This is a fact we know all too well. Labor organizations and unions have been target of attacks by the military in the past under previous administrations. We have a standing complaint against the Republic of the Philippines with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in relation to military-instigated attacks on unions, unionists and workers in the region,” said Olalo.
Aside from the arrest of Mamuyac, KMU said their regional office was “intruded by unidentified men last Saturday”.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the “all out war” against the NPA will only target its armed components allaying fears of human rights violations against civilians. (davaotoday.com)
