Youth activist in Quezon found guilty of illegal possessio of firearm, explosive

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

LUCENA CITY — A City Regional Trial Court convicted on Wednesday, March 15, youth activist Alexandrea Pacalda guilty of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Judge Salvador Villarosa, in his decision, ruled that Pacalda is guilty of violating the “Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.”

Villarosa meted eight to 10 years jail term on Pacalda.

The judge also found Pacalda guilty of violating the Law on Explosives, and imposed the penalty of reclusion perpetua (20 to 40 years imprisonment).

Colonel Dennis Cana, public information officer of the Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command (Solcom), posted a quote card on the court dispositive portion on social media.

With the court verdict on Pacalda, Solcom said: “Justice was served.”

“However, the command is saddened that another life of our youth is destroyed, victimized by the communist terrorists with their deception and duplicitous modus operandi,” the military said.

Militant groups assailed the court decision “based on trumped-up charges.”

Gabriela-Southern Tagalog, an activist women’s group, vowed it would continue the struggle for Pacalda’s freedom.

Pacalda was cornered by members of patrolling Army soldiers in Barangay Magsaysay in General Luna, Quezon on Sept. 14, 2019, after she was allegedly left behind by her New People’s Army (NPA) comrades who were able to escape.

The Army reportedly found her with a .38 revolver and a hand grenade.

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

The human rights group Karapatan insisted that Pacalda was a campus journalist and a member of Gabriela. But the military presented pictures and video of her holding a rifle in the company of alleged NPA rebels in a guerrilla camp.

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