Police insist ailing Gabriela leader in Caraga an NPA official

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur, Philippines — The top police official in the Caraga region has stood pat on the claim that a local leader of the party list group Gabriela is a ranking leader of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr., Caraga police director, said last week’s arrest of Atheliana Hijos, known as “Ka Atel,” was a legitimate law enforcement operation contrary to the claims of human rights group Karapatan that the charges against her were false.

The ailing 76-year-old leader of Gabriela is under the custody of the police’s Regional Intelligence Division.

Maj. Jennifer Ometer, public information officer of the regional police, said Hijos, secretary general of Gabriela in Caraga, was arrested on Aug. 30 and taken to an undisclosed location where she is detained even if she is suffering from various ailments.

In a statement written in Filipino and posted on social media, Caramat said Hijos was “the fourth most wanted NPA rebel in Caraga, who has standing arrest warrants issued by local courts.”

Caramat said the police were duty-bound to serve court-issued warrants of arrest to anyone, including Hijos, so they could have their day in court.

Police investigation showed Hijos was allegedly involved in an encounter with Army soldiers on Nov. 20, 2019, at Sitio Kalipayan, Barangay Cuyago, in Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, that resulted in the killing of Cpl. Mario Suson, Caramat’s statement said.

Hijos was arrested by intelligence operatives at Barangay Kinabjangan in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, for her supposed involvement in the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of a member of the Civilian Active Auxiliary of the Philippine Army on Dec. 29, 2018, at Barangay Kolambugan in Sibagat town, Agusan del Sur.

In a separate statement, Karapatan called the charges against Hijos “a blatant lie considering Atel’s senior age and frail physical condition.”

“Atel has pulmonary tuberculosis and hypertension, and she had a mild stroke. She has been bedridden, and she has difficulties [in] walking, at times using a wheelchair. How can an elderly woman, with such a frail build like Atel’s, possibly commit all the crimes alleged against her?” Karapatan asked.

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