Cops nab KMP chair, another activist in separate ops in Pampanga, Tarlac

Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) vice chairman Joseph Canlas. Image: Courtesy of the KMP.

MANILA, Philippines — The vice-chairman of the farmers’ organization Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and another activist were arrested in separate police operations in Pampanga and Tarlac on Tuesday.

According to the KMP, its national vice-chairman and Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL) Joseph Canlas was arrested during an operation by operatives of the Philippine National Police-Criminal and Investigation Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) at a nearby community in Mexico, Pampanga at 8:30 a.m. of Tuesday.

Hours before his arrest, the KMP added that the PNP-CIDG stormed the office of the AMLG in Sapang Maisac, Mexico Pampanga.

The KMP also reported that around the same time of Canlas’ arrest, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Central Luzon and Workers Alliance of Region III (WAR-3) leader Pol Viuya was arrested at a private residence in Bamban, Tarlac.

Both leaders have been red-tagged by the controversial National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac), the KMP said.

Canlas’ arrest resulted from a warrant of arrest for malicious mischief and a search warrant for violating Republic Act No. 10591, also known as the “Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act,” according to a police report.

Police said they seized a caliber .45 Armscor pistol with a defaced serial number, one magazine assembly loaded with six pieces of live ammunition for .45 caliber, 11 pieces of live ammunition for .45 caliber, inserted in one black inside the holster, and one fragmentation grenade, as well as various documents, from the KMP vice-chairman.

Meanwhile, according to a separate police report, Viuya was arrested in response to a search warrant released on March 29, 2021 by Hon. Jeovannie C Ordoo, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 109 of Capas, Tarlac.

Seized during Viuya’s arrest were one caliber .45 pistol; one piece of live ammunition for caliber .45; one-piece magazine assembly for caliber .45; five live pieces of ammunition for caliber .45; nine pieces of live ammunition for 9mm; and one fragmentation hand grenade, the PNP said.

The activists’ arrest comes only two days after union leader Dandy Miguel was killed in Barangay Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna.

This came just weeks after police conducted simultaneous raids on political activists in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon, killing nine people. The operations have since been dubbed “Bloody Sunday” by militant groups.

JPV/abc