Gov’t says CPP leader not illegally arrested

DAVAO CITY—Contrary to claims by the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and human rights groups, a senior communist leader who was recently captured in Iloilo City is not covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantee (Jasig), according to the government peace panel.

“We refute the claim that Bocala was illegally arrested,” said a statement released by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process on Monday, referring to the case of Maria Concepcion “Concha” Araneta-Bocala, alleged secretary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in Panay island.

Bocala, 64, was arrested along with her nephew and an aide by police and military agents in a rented house in Barangay Calumpang in Molo District, Iloilo City, on Aug 1. She is reportedly suffering from diabetes, pneumonia and other ailments.

‘Law enforcement’

Her arrest on murder charges was a “law enforcement operation” based on a warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court’s Branch 2 in Kalibo, Aklan province, the statement added.

The peace panel said that since Bocala is not covered by Jasig, there is no violation of the agreement.

“As we have consistently held, Jasig is operative only for those personalities of the CPP, the NDFP and the New People’s Army (NPA) who are using their real names, and those who are recognized by the government as participants in the talks,” the statement said.

“Due to the failed Jasig verification process in 2011, Jasig is no longer operative for those using aliases or pseudonyms,” it added.

The NDFP earlier insisted that Bocala, who assumed the name Remi Estrella, is an NDFP consultant covered by the agreement. But the government panel said the failure of the validation mechanism that kept the records of Jasig-covered NDFP and the government panel members in The Hague made it impossible to verify whether Bocala and Estrella are one and the same person.

“I showed (the policemen) my Jasig identification but they told me it was ‘nothing,’” Bocala told the Inquirer at her cell, measuring 4 x 3 meters.

“They also did not read me my rights under the Miranda Doctrine and provide me a lawyer of my choice,” Bocala said in her prison cell. The Miranda Doctrine prescribes that persons who are being arrested should be advised of their basic rights including the right to remain silent and to have their lawyer of choice when being questioned.

She said the policemen who arrested her also showed her a photocopy, not the original, of the warrant.

DETAINED communist leader Maria Concepcion Araneta-Bocala talks to the Inquirer at the Molo District police station in Iloilo City. NESTOR P. BURGOS JR./INQUIRER VISAYAS

But the CIDG has insisted that her arrest was done legitimately based on warrants of arrest and according to the prescribed procedures. “They (rebels) always say that when they are arrested,” Senior Supt. Peter Gaboye of the Iloilo City police station told the Inquirer.

Bocala is also facing a rebellion charge in the Culasi, Antique, Fifth Municipal Circuit Trial Court.

Tactical dislocation

Her two companions, who were also arrested, were released on Monday after posting a bail bond of P6,000 each. Joseph Cariaga, a nephew of her husband and rebel leader Reynaldo Bocala; and Annielyn Soldevilla, her house companion, are facing a complaint for obstruction of justice.

Bocala described her capture as a “tactical dislocation.”

Elite policemen from the Special Weapons and Tactics unit of the Philippine National Police have beefed up the policemen at the Molo police station as reporters, friends and relatives of Bocala see her.

Two civilians who informed authorities about the whereabouts of Bocala will get the P7.8-million reward offered by the government. Reports from Germelina Lacorte, Inquirer Mindanao, and Nestor P. Burgos Jr., Inquirer Visayas