BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has enjoined law enforcement agencies here to provide “appropriate information” on the recent mass arrest against activists and progressive groups in this city.
The local legislative body on Thursday passed a resolution addressed to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Region 6, Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office, Bacolod City Police Office, and Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade.
Councilor Wilson Gamboa, who authored the resolution, said he wants police and military personnel to disclose information without jeopardizing national security to the SP.
In response of to SP’s request,
Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson Captain Cenon Pancito III
said they are “very much willing” to comply once they receive a copy of the
resolution.
“We are not hiding anything and it is the right of every Negrense to know what
is really happening in the area,” he explained.
The military official also said they are willing to present the current
situation as they believe the local government should be more aware of the
situation at hand.
To date, the CIDG has filed cases for illegal possession of firearms and explosives against 42 suspected CPP-NPA members arrested in operations in this city on Oct. 31.
Of the 42 arrested and charged, 11 have been indicted for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives by Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Fernand Castro of the Office of the City Prosecutor here.
The charge against 31 other respondents has been dismissed for lack of probable cause, and they were released from the CIDG’s custody on Wednesday afternoon./PN
