Militants ask military to free researcher

Tacloban City — A militant group in Eastern Visayas has been demanding the release of Ericson Acosta, whom the military identified as an official of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Acosta was arrested Feb. 14 in Barangay Bay-ang, San Jorge town, Samar by the members of the 34th Infantry Battalion which is based in the same town.

The continued detention of Acosta violated his human rights, Rogelio Berino, secretary general of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) for Eastern Visayas, said in a statement.

“Bayan-Eastern Visayas calls for Acosta’s immediate and unconditional release if the military truly knows and recognizes human rights in its true sense,” Berino said in an e-mailed statement on Tuesday.

He noted that contrary to the claims of the military, the 37-year old Acosta was not a member of the CPP.

According to Berino, Acosta was a researcher connected with the Alliance of Concerned Samareños and the farmers’ group Kapunungan han Gudti nga Parag-uma ha Weste han Samar (Kapawa), both non-government organizations working for the interests of common and peasant people.

Berino said that the “persistent detention” of Acosta was another case of the military not respecting the rights of the individuals.

He maintained that the charge filed against Acosta was a mere fabrication to legitimize his detention.

But Col. Niceforo Diaz, information officer of the 8th Infantry Division, based in Catbalogan City, said that Acosta was no longer under their jurisdiction since the case against him has been filed before the Regional Trial Court Branch 41 in Gandara, Samar.

However, Diaz explained that based on the documents and intelligence information that they have gathered, Acosta was not just an ordinary member of the communist group.

Acosta, he said, was in charge of the instruction bureau of the national education department of the CPP central committee. “We have a basis for his arrest,” Diaz said in a phone interview yesterday.

The military had seized from Acosta various alleged “subversive documents” along with a hand grenade, a cell phone and P4,000 in cash.

Acosta, who was charged for illegal possession of firearms and explosives, is detained at the police jail in Gandara town, also in Samar. /INQUIRER