BY EUGENE Y.ADIONG
BACOLOD City – A former rebel turned congressman criticized the arrest of a former commander of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army – Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) by policemen.
Cong. Joseph Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod) said the arrest of Marlon de los Santos in Brgy. 2, San Carlos City on Wednesday violated the peace agreement of the RPA-ABB and the national government.
The arresting policemen also seized several firearms and ammunitions from de los Santos – an M-16 assault rifle, a carbine and a .45 caliber pistol, plus magazines of assorted ammunitions.
Paduano is popularly known as Carapali Lualhati, the former national commander of the RPA- ABB.
“De los Santos was not displaying his firearms. Those were hidden in his house,” he said.
De los Santos used to be the RPA-ABB commander in the 1st District of Negros Occidental.
He is now the secretary of KAPATIRAN para sa Progresong Panlipunan (Brotherhood for Social Progress), the new name of the RPA-ABB.
The raid on de los Santos’ house was a joint effort of the Regional Special Operations Group of the Police Regional Office 6, 6th Special Action Battalion, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and its Civilian Informant Service, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office’s Special Operations Group and the local police.
San Carlos City Regional Trial Court Judge Kathrine Go issued the search warrant.
“I have already informed the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP). I am concerned that this is happening. We are already nearing the closure of the peace agreement,” Paduano said.
The agreement is currently being reviewed by the Office of the President.
“I strongly condemn the raid,” Paduano said. “I am for peace but this is harassment. They should not force me to call for a congressional investigation on the incident.”
Col. Jon Aying, commander of the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Battalion, admitted “lapses in coordination.”
“There will be hurt feelings so there should be an immediate dialogue between KAPATIRAN, the OPAPP and Philippine National Police,” Aying said./PN
