By EUGENE ADIONG
BACOLOD City — The raid of the house of a suspected leader of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army–Alex Boncayao Brigade in San Carlos City “had basis and followed the right process,” said Chief Supt. Josephus Angan, police regional director.
Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Stephen Paduano had claimed the raid of Marlon de los Santos’ house in Brgy. 2 was “a violation of the peace agreement between the RPA–ABB and Philippine government.”
Angan believes there is enough proof against de los Santos. It would not be easy to secure a search warrant if otherwise, he said.
If de los Santos was indeed an RPA–ABB commander, “he should prove it before the prosecutor,” Angan said. “He should present documents to prove that the firearms confiscated in his possession were part of the profiling under the group’s peace agreement with the government.”
Wednesday’s raid yielded an M16 assault rifle, a carbine and a caliber .45 pistol with magazines of assorted ammunition.
Charges for illegal possession of firearms have been filed against de los Santos before the San Carlos City Prosecutor’s Office. He was given 10 days to submit a counter-affidavit.
De los Santos was a former RPA–ABB commander in the 1st District and the current secretary of Kapatiran para sa Progresong Panlipunan, RPA–ABB’s new name.
De los Santos was detained in the San Carlos City police station.
The raid was staged by the Police Regional Office 6’s Regional Special Operations Group.
Paduano called on the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to investigate the alleged illegal operation./PN
