CPP seeks ‘independent’ probe of Mindanao Red leader’s killing

DAVAO CITY — The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has called for an impartial investigation into the killing of National Democratic Front (NDF)-Mindanao spokesperson Alvin Luque on Thursday in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur province.

The CPP said in a statement that Luque, known as Ka Joaquin Jacinto, was “extrajudicially killed.”

Also killed with Luque was Rodel Macana, a resident of Barangay Libas of San Miguel town, Surigao del Sur, said Brig. Gen. Allan Hambala, commander of the Army’s 401st Infantry Brigade.

Hambala said a team of police and soldiers were out to serve arrest warrants on Luque around 1 a.m. on Thursday but he and Macana “opened fire at the arresting forces,” which triggered a shootout.

“There were three bullet marks on the door and ceiling found by crime investigators indicating they fired their guns,” Hambala explained.

The CPP, however, said it was an “assassination” because the 51-year-old Luque was still recovering from partial paralysis.

Hambala described Luque, who was also a member of the CPP’s Komisyon Mindanao, as “one of the most senior and durable leaders of the communists operating in the Caraga region.”

Luque had 16 outstanding arrest warrants and a P6 million bounty on his head, revealed Police Brig. Gen. Romeo M. Caramat, Caraga police director.

Recuperating

“Ka Joaquin was unarmed and was convalescing. He was detached a few months ago from the main office of the NDF-Mindanao to undergo medical checkups and to recuperate from partial paralysis,” the CPP said in a statement.

“A few months ago, he was physically debilitated and could not walk after he underwent intense physical struggles amid heavy enemy operations and counterguerrilla maneuvers,” the CPP added.

Teacher

It urged the military troops involved in the operation “to come out and reveal what they know.”

Luque, an alumnus of Ateneo de Davao University who taught at Assumption School of Davao, was secretary-general of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) in Davao City and later in Northern Mindanao.

He went into hiding in 2006 after a barrage of cases were lodged against him, including having allegedly ordered the burning of a public transport bus, a farm, and the office of a government agency for failure to pay revolutionary tax.

In 2009, he appeared alongside then NDF-Mindanao spokesperson Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos in an event to observe the CPP’s 41st anniversary in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur, which was opened to journalists.

Luque later admitted he joined the New People’s Army as “a personal choice.”

Bayan had nothing to do with it, he had said. —REPORTS FROM FROILAN GALLARDO, JIGGER JERUSALEM AND KARLOS MANLUPIG