Army takes custody of wounded Fil-Jap ‘rebel’ in Cagayan

Cagayan province map

BAGUIO CITY —The Philippine Army has taken custody of a Filipino-Japanese university student from Manila who was wounded during a gun battle between the alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and the government troops in Cagayan province on Monday, Feb. 13.

In a report, the military identified the student as Orion Yoshida, 28, who was allegedly among the rebels who fought against the government forces from the 17th Infantry Battalion of the 5th Infantry Division during a 30-minute encounter.

According to the military, the Army troops were on patrol at Sitio (sub-village) Nangbaggayan in Barangay Sta. Margarita, Baggao town, Cagayan, when they chanced upon the rebels.

Authorities said Yoshida, alias “Brown,” was captured during a clearing operation a day after the clash.

In a separate report, the Police Regional Office 2 said Yoshida is an alleged member of a rebel unit under the command of a certain commander Rannie.

The government troops recovered documents and reading materials from the NPA rebels. A laptop computer was also found on the scene.

But human rights group Karapatan-Cagayan Valley has called on the military to afford Yoshida his rights while under their custody.

In a statement, Karapatan said Yoshida should be given medical aid and be afforded visitation rights by his family and chosen lawyer.

The group added that his safety from torture and harassment should also be ensured.

“Whether a rebel who lost the capacity to fight or a civilian found at a place where an encounter (between NPA rebels and government soldiers), the 5th Infantry Division, police and all government forces should respect Yoshida’s rights provided under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL),” Karapatan stated.

CARHRIHL was the first of the four substantive agendas of the peace process between the Philippine government and the Communist Party of the Philippines. This agreement, signed by both parties in 1998, outlines how the rights of civilians and combatants should be respected even in the conduct of war.

Karapatan-Cagayan Valley also urged the Commission on Human Rights and the International Committee of the Red Cross to immediately check on Yoshida’s well-being.

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