More raps filed vs communists

MANILA, Philippines–State prosecutors are seeking to amend the government’s murder case against prominent leftist figures, filing 14 more charges in connection with the mass grave that the military allegedly found in Inopacan, Leyte.

The prosecution has asked the Manila Regional Trial Court to consolidate the latest information with the case that is pending in Branch 32 against Jose Ma. Sison, Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, Satur Ocampo and other alleged members of the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

“These cases are founded on the same facts and form part of a series of offenses of similar character which may be tried jointly,” said the motion to consolidate filed by senior state prosecutor Peter Ong and assistant state prosecutor Gino Paolo Santiago.

The mass grave allegedly contained the bodies of the victims of a communist purge of suspected government spies in 1985.

Militant groups have denounced the case, saying they were trumped-up charges against political activists.–Erika Sauler