PNP says arrest of NDFP consultant not a political issue

The arrest of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Vic Ladlad is not a political issue but is because of his “blatant” violation of the law, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said on Thursday.

Police said Ladlad was arrested early Thursday morning in a raid along Saint Mark Street corner Saint Joseph Street in Doña Tomasa subdivision in Barangay San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City, for alleged illegal possession of high-powered firearms, ammunition, and explosives.

READ: NDFP consultant Vic Ladlad arrested by police, says wife

Recovered from Ladlad and a certain Antonio De Jesus and one alias “Ate Ana” were two long firearms, three short firearms, four hand grenades, and several subversive documents, according to Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, director of the National Capital Region Police Office.

“It is a violation of the law, not a political issue. It is a violation of the law, possession of loose firearms, violation of RA 10591,” Albayalde said in a press briefing.  RA 10591 is the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

“This is a simple, blatant violation of the law, itong (this) possession of loose firearms,” he said.

According to Albayalde, Ladlad is a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines and head of the National United Front Commission.

READ: PNP confirms arrest of NDFP consultant Vic Ladlad

Eleazar also noted that Ladlad is among the NDFP consultants who surfaced during the peace talks but went back to hiding after the talks collapsed.

According to Eleazar, the raid stemmed from reports of concerned citizens on the suspicious presence of the suspects in the area. The NCRPO chief also denied that the guns, ammunition and explosives seized from Ladlad and the others were planted.

“Lagi namang ganoon iyong depensa (The defense is always like that),” he said, adding that local officials were present during the raid. He said the local officials have even certified that the search was conducted in an “orderly manner.”

Meanwhile, Albayalde said the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) does not apply to Ladlad’s case as he was arrested over a violation of the law.

JASIG is an agreement between the government and the NDFP providing safety and immunity guarantees to protect the rights of personnel who participate in peace negotiations. /muf