AFP rubbing salt on an open wound, says militant group

Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines—What is the purpose of the taunting?

A militant group posed the question to the Armed Forces of the Philippines after it made a “taunting remark” against the New People’s Army saying they have captured their top leaders just in time for the NPA’s 45^th founding anniversary on March 29.

“The AFP appears to be rubbing salt on an open wound, with the seeming desire to escalate violence and further erode any prospects of peace,” Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said in a statement Wednesday.

In a previous Philippine Daily Inquirer report, Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala, Armed Forces public affairs office chief, indirectly told the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA: “Happy anniversary. We have arrested your No. 1 and No. 2.”

“What is the purpose of the taunting? Is it to further undermine any prospects for peace? Is it an attempt to get the other side to retaliate?” said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr.

Reyes added that Zagala’s statement was “quite pathetic” since it exposes the vow of President Benigno Aquino III to “give primacy to peace negotiations” as a “sham.”

Planting evidence as ‘SOP’

Bayan also denounced the “standard operating procedure” of the AFP planting evidence to enable the filing of non-bailable charges to alleged criminals.

Lawyers of the Tiamzon couple denied the two communist leaders were in possession of firearms and explosives when they were arrested in Cebu province last Saturday.

During the arrest, Benito and Wilma had only three puppies and four cats in their vehicle, said lawyer Rachelle Pastores.

The group said many previous detainees have been subjected to the same, citing the case of the Morong 43 and former political prisoner, poet Ericson Acosta who were all charged with illegal possession of firearms. The cases were later dismissed by the Department of Justice.

“The AFP has a solid track record in the filing of trumped-up charges and in the planting of evidence. Ericson Acosta carried with him a laptop but was later charged with carrying a grenade,” Reyes said.

“The Morong 43 were conducting a health training but were charged with carrying explosives. It’s really hard to accept presumption of regularity when the AFP has been violating the law with impunity,” he added.

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