Detained activist says he didn’t keep guns, grenades

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Detained peasant leader Joseph Canlas on Wednesday sought his release as he denied keeping guns and grenades when he was arrested by a team of policemen and soldiers in Pampanga on March 30.

Canlas, chair of Alyansa ng Magbubukid ng Gitnang Luson (AMGL), aired his demand in a video taken by his lawyer Luz Perez a week after his arrest in Mexico town.

Canlas has been suffering from anxiety attacks and other ailments, Perez told the Inquirer in a phone interview on Wednesday.

A court has yet to issue an order committing Canlas to a local jail, she said.

Pol Viuya, chair of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Central Luzon, was also arrested on the same day in a house in Bamban, Tarlac, and was held in Camp Macabulos in Tarlac City.

Visitors not allowed?

According to the police, the guns and grenades were discovered during court-approved searches inside the AMGL office in what the activists called “huli (arrest) week,” timed with the observance of Holy Week.

The two activists were charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Canlas’ daughter Jenelle said family members had not been able to visit him since April 1.

Viuya’s kin complained that their visitation rights had been denied. The regional police did not comment when asked for reactions.

Posted on the Facebook page of Peasant Watch Central Luzon, the video came out after Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) reported that Canlas had been deprived of visits by his relatives.

The video showed a logo of the police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on a wall near where Canlas spoke. There was no footage showing prison conditions.

Jenelle said food, medicines and toiletries were left at the main gate and taken by policemen to her father.

In the video, Canlas said he “never held a gun or a grenade,” adding that he organized dialogues of farmers and officials of government agencies on agrarian, agriculture and environment issues.

Canlas, who is also national vice chair of KMP, said he feared for his safety because the military and the police tagged him as a communist.

In a statement on March 30, the military’s Northern Luzon Command described Canlas and Viuya as “top-ranking Communist Terrorist Group members of Regional White Area Executive Committee under the Central Luzon Regional Party.” —TONETTE OREJAS