Wrong arrest? Group says woman trader not rebel

Women’s group Gabriela said the supposed rebel leader arrested by authorities on Thursday was a volunteer active in promoting women’s rights since 2006.

Atel Hijos, Gabriela Women’s Party secretary general in Caraga region, said Nerita de Castro’s arrest was based on trumped-up charges.

De Castro, Hijos said, was “an ordinary citizen and defender of women’s rights” and not a leader of New People’s Army (NPA) as the military had claimed.

De Castro was arrested in a raid by soldiers and policemen on her house in Emenville Subdivision at the village of Ambago in Butuan City.

Maj. Ezra Balagtey, Eastern Mindanao Command spokesperson, said a warrant of arrest had been issued for De Castro but details of the case against her were not available.

Brig. Gen. Franco Nemesio Gagal, head of the 402nd Infantry Brigade, said De Castro was finance officer of NPA in Mindanao.

But Hijos said De Castro was “a small businesswoman who devoted part of her time for the promotion of women’s rights.” —Erwin Macariñas