Prosecutors seek new venue for trial of Panay rebel leader

ILOILO CITY—Citing security reasons, government prosecutors have asked the Supreme Court to transfer to this city the trial venues of criminal cases filed against alleged rebel leader Maria Concepcion Araneta-Bocala in neighboring Antique and Aklan provinces.

Bocala, 65, alleged head of the Panay regional committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), was arrested in a rented house in Molo District here on Aug. 1. A P7.8-million bounty had been placed for her arrest.

In a 10-page joint petition filed on Oct. 22, the Offices of the Provincial Prosecutor of Aklan and Antique cited Bocala’s alleged position as head of the CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, in Panay and as a member of the CPP’s Central Committee which placed her as a “high security risk person of interest.”

Her comrades may attempt to rescue her, especially while in transit from Iloilo to Aklan and Antique to attend the trials, they said, enumerating previous cases of detained rebel leaders who had escaped in other parts of the country.

Bocala, who is being held at the Special Intensive Care Area of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology district jail in Barangay Nanga in Pototan town, has been charged with murder at the Kalibo Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 2 in Aklan. She is among the accused in the killing of Metudio Inesa on Sept. 18, 1975, in Sitio Agbanuod, Barangay Panipiason in Madalag town, Aklan.

She is also facing a rebellion charge before the Culasi Regional Trial Court Branch 13 in Antique.

Police have filed separate charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and of illegal possession of explosives before the Iloilo RTC.

Bocala has repeatedly denied the accusations, while her lawyers have condemned the filing of the criminal cases for political offenses.

She has insisted on her immunity from arrest and prosecution as a Visayas consultant of the CPP-led National Democratic Front in peace negotiations with the government. This has been denied by the government peace panel.

The prosecutors said transferring the trial venues would also protect prosecutors and witnesses from possible threats and harassment.

The petition was signed by Aklan provincial prosecutor Ma. Maya Bien Mayor-Tolentino and assistant provincial prosecutors Jobert Martelino and Flosemer Chris Gonzales, and Antique provincial prosecutor Michael Villavert and assistant provincial prosecutor Ricardo Huele.

Prosecutor General Claro Arellano conformed with the joint petition.

Bocala’s lawyers led by Janne Baterna said they would oppose the petition as another cause of delay in the resolution of the cases. Baterna earlier said they would push for the dismissal of the cases, pointing out that the murder charge against her coaccused, Ruben Saluta, was dismissed for lack of evidence and witnesses.

The prosecutors also asked the high court to order the deferment of proceedings of the cases in Aklan and Antique, pending the resolution of their joint petition.