CIDG, ex-rebel file criminal raps vs Joma Sison, 3 CPP members

Jose Maria Sison. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Tuesday said it had filed criminal complaints against exiled Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison and three other members at the Department of Justice (DOJ).

CIDG director PMGen. Albert Ferro together with Lady Desiree Miranda “Ka-Shane” and two other witnesses – Florida Versola Sibayan alias “Ka Pong” and Francisco Cortez Baesa Jr. alias “Buboy,” “Doris,” “Norli,” “Badjao,” and “Ador,” all former members of the communist terrorist group – and the members of the Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Unit (AFCCU) and Women and Children Complaint Unit (WCCU) filed the complaint before the DOJ.

The CIDG filed complaints for alleged violation of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 as well as the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act against Sison, while similar complaints were filed against Redsa Balatan, who, according to the CIDG, was the alleged recruiter of Miranda.

Two other members, Rey Dela Pena and Joel Caliwliw, face criminal complaints for rape–two counts for Dela Pena and four counts for Caliwliw.

A complaint filed by Miranda with the CIDG reveals that at the age of 14, she was recruited as a member of Anakbayan.

She received “Radicalization Courses from Radicalization Centers.” She became a CTG Urban Operator before eventually joining the communist (Red Area Operation) at the CARABALLO Guerrilla Front covering Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya and Pangasinan, before becoming a full-fledged member.

“Miranda was an example of a trafficked child who completed the cycle of the act of recruitment, deception and exploitative purpose to engage a child in armed activities by the [CPP],” said Ferro.

According to the CIDG, Miranda was allegedly raped by her communist commander Dela Pena, followed by her vice squad leader Alvin Soria and then again in 2018 by Caliwliw, who is also a commander.

Sison is currently exiled in the Netherlands, while Balatan, Dela Pena, and Caliwliw are detained at Nueva Ecija Provincial Jail in Cabanatuan City, at Bambang Police Station in Nueva Vizcaya and BJMP Provincial Jail in Nueva Vizcaya, respectively.

“The CIDG, as mandated by law, has the duty to serve and protect the country and its citizenry without prejudice or bias, the justice that KA “SHANE” wants to get is now in the hands of the DOJ based on the witnesses and evidence that the complainant and the CIDG presented,” Ferro said.

“Hindi po natin isinasantabi ang pagtulong sa sinumang biktima ng krimen kabilang rito ang ating mga kababayang nagbalik-loob sa gobyerno upang mabigyang hustisya ang pananamantalang kanilang sinapit sa kamay ng grupong minsan nilang inaniban,” he added.

(We will not set aside any victim of crime, including our compatriots who have converted to the government to bring justice to the exploitation they suffered at the hands of the group they once joined.)

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