MANILA, Philippines – Batangas government officials are rallying behind a fisherfolk leader implicated along with 26 activists in burning down a Globe cell site in Lemery, Batangas, on Aug. 2.

Four mayors, a vice mayor, a few town councilors, barangay captains and officials and residents of six coastal towns in the first district have issued certifications, statements and testimonies clearing Isabelo Alicaya, chair of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) in Southern Tagalog.

Arson charges, too

Alicaya and the other activists in Southern Tagalog are facing arson charges filed by an employee of Globe Telecom before a regional trial court in Batangas City.

Gerry Corpuz, Pamalakaya public information officer, said over the phone that reports on the support of local officials reached the militant fisherfolk group’s office in Quezon City only on Friday. Alicaya’s supporters have been sending statements and certifications since September, he said.

Pamalakaya has furnished the Inquirer some of the statements.

Those who have issued statements confirming that Alicaya is of good moral standing, a law abiding citizen and a man of peace are Mayors Antonio Barcelona (Nasugbu), Larry Alilio (Lemery), Emmanuel Fronda (Balayan) and Edgardo Calingasan (Tuy); Lian Vice Mayor Gerardo Manalo, Department of the Interior and Local Government Taal Municipal Head Romy Balboa and Taal councilors.

In the certification submitted to the RTC on Sept. 9, Fronda said Alicaya was the president of the Haligi ng Batangueñong Anakdagat (Habagat) , a district wide alliance of small fisherfolk affiliated with Pamalakaya.

Outstanding leader

Manalo wrote that he knew Alicaya as a resident of Barangay San Diego, vouching further that he is an outstanding leader and a very honest person.

“Mr. Alicaya is a very active leader with unquestionable commitment to uplift the life of marginalized fisherfolk and farmers,” Manalo said.

In a statement, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said more than 1,000 fisherfolk and residents in six coastal towns in the province signed a collective petition urging the court to drop the case against Alicaya and the 26 others.

“The national leadership and mass membership of Pamalakaya are grateful to the local government officials and the people of the first district of Batangas for supporting Ka Beloy and 26 other activists,” he said.

Fabricated

Calling the charges fabricated, Pamalakaya said this strategy had been executed in Central Luzon, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Mindanao regions and Negros provinces.

Aside from arson, leaders of militant groups are facing charges of multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder in connection with an ambush staged by the New People’s Army in March 2006 in Oriental Mindoro.

Police have already arrested four of them, including lawyer Remigio Saladero, Kilusang Mayo Uno’s legal counsel.