MANILA, Philippines–The kidnapping with murder charges filed against Andrea Rosal, suspected New People’s Army (NPA) leader and daughter of the late NPA spokesman Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal, has been dismissed for lack of evidence, her lawyer said on Thursday.
According to Edre Olalia of the National Union of People’s Lawyers, Judge Toribio Ilao Jr. of the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 266 ruled on Wednesday that there was no evidence linking Andrea to the 2007 case.
“We welcome … the dismissal of the kidnapping charges pending in the Pasig court against (Andrea) Rosal even as we await the same resolution for [the] dismissal of murder charges in a Mauban, Quezon, court,” he said.
According to Olalia, it was tragic that Andrea was “arrested, detained and lost [her] baby daughter over false, trumped-up and malicious charges which the Pasig court correctly struck down with prejudice.”
“In righteous indignation, we will continue to assist her in thwarting her persecution and all others similarly victimized as we exhaust all legal means to seek accountability from all those who perpetuate rank injustice especially against the lowly and the underdog,” he added in a statement.
The then seven-month-pregnant Andrea and several others were arrested by the military and the National Bureau of Investigation in a house in Caloocan City on March 27 based on warrants issued by a Mauban, Quezon, court on kidnapping and murder charges.
She gave birth on May 17 although the baby died the following day. Andrea blamed the government for the death of her firstborn, saying she was deprived of medical attention during her detention at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
The poor conditions at the jail also contributed to her baby’s demise, she added.–Kristine Felisse Mangunay