SC backstops leftist raids

Top officials of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict lashed back at the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives for taking the cudgels for the arrested alleged 55 communist terrorists.

New People’s Army guerillas are often interchangeable with members of non-government organizations which try to detach from the communist movement. AFP

The Supreme Court (SC) upheld yesterday the legality of seven search warrants issued against front organizations of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) in Bacolod and Escalante cities in Negros Occidental last week.

SC spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka was reacting to the petition of leftist groups led by Neri Colmenares that asked the High Tribunal to sanction Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 89 Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert, who issued the search warrants used in the raids.

“If respondents feel aggrieved with the issuance, the proper remedy is to file a motion to quash either before the court that issued them or before the court where the cases are eventually filed,” Hosaka told reporters.

It was noted, however, that the judge conducted an exhaustive interview with the applicants of the warrants and their witnesses before making his decision.

For nine hours, Villavert reportedly propounded the questions to deponents from Negros to ensure that constitutional requirements for the issuance of search warrants were followed.

Under court rules, in determining probable cause in the issuance of a search warrant, a judge must be convinced of facts and circumstances that would lead “a reasonable, discreet and prudent man to believe that there has been a crime committed” and the things and objects connected to the crime committed are in the place to be searched.

Hosaka maintained that Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta immediately directed the Court Administrator to remind judges to be deliberate, circumspect and prudent with the issuances of warrants.

“The Court Administrator was quick to note that the Executive Judges of Manila and Quezon City are really authorized to issue SW (search warrants), which may be implemented nationwide in certain instances and provided that the legal requirements are met,” Hosaka said.

This, as top officials of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) lashed back at the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives for taking the cudgels for the 55 arrested alleged communist terrorists.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., who is also vice chairman of the NTF-ELCAC, junked claims that those arrested were members of progressive organizations.

Those arrested were identified members and leaders of militant groups Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Kilusang Mayo Uno and Alliance of Concerned Teachers.

“Progressive organizations? They are simply fronts of the CPP-NPA-NDF, better known as the communist terrorist group. This is the real story of the raids in Bacolod and Escalante,” Esperon posted on social media.

He stressed that the arrest made jointly by police and military elements clearly illustrate the seamless link between the CPP-NPA-NDF with their front organizations which call themselves “progressive.”

“The leftist groups that like to call themselves ‘progressive’ are fronts for recruitment, logistics and propaganda,” Esperon said.

Of the 55 persons arrested during the raids in Bacolod and Escalante last Thursday, he noted that 15 are minors with ages ranging from 12 to 15.

“They were about to be deployed to NPA units. Poor kids! And CPP-NPA don’t care!” he added.

Maj. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines deputy chief of staff for civil military operations and NTF-ELCAC spokesman, said the NPA rebels were collared from four underground offices and three barangays.

He said among those arrested were Romulo Bito-on, alias Muloy, a former platoon leader of the CPP-NPA’s Regional Security Force operating in Negros, Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor, and Analyn Bito-on, who uses the aliases Dobol and Chinchin, tagged as the secretary of Regional Unified White Area Committee and finance officer of the CPP-NPA in the area.

“So that husband and wife won’t let go of the funds of their regional party,” Parlade explained.

The official said 24 various firearms, including a KG sub-machinegun and fragmentary grenades, were seized during the raid.