CHR to Closely Monitor Arrested Minors Who Were Suspected as NPA Rebels

Six alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were arrested last Saturday, March 3. Among them are two minors and four adults including a newly graduate of University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu named Myles Albasin y Cantal. With this, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said they will closely monitor the two minors.

According to Lt. Col. Darrel Banes, 62nd Infantry Battalion commanding officer, some 20 suspected NPA rebels were spotted at Sitio Tumonon, Barangay Luyang, Mabinay, Negros Oriental that day. When soldiers went to check the area, the armed group started to fire at them, which led to a 45-minute exchange of fire and the capture of six of them.

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Aside from Albasin who was later identified as a 21-year old UP Mass Communication graduate, also arrested are Jomar Indico y Garlet (29 yrs old), Joey Vailoces y Amaro (18 yrs. old), Randel Hermino y Balasabas (19 yrs old), Bernardo Guillen Jr y Embalsardo aka Tigas and Carlo Ybañez y Villamor, both of them are 17 years old.

Seized from the suspects are six high powered firearms, four M16 assault rifles with ab M203 grenade launcher, and two M4 assault rifles, along with an improvised landmine, grenade rifle high explosives with fuse, different types of ammunition, medicines, personal belongings, and subversive documents with high intelligence value.

Meanwhile, CHR Chairman Chito Gascon said that he has confirmed that 2 of the 6 arrested NPA rebels were minors. He added that he has already sent a reminder to Lt. Col. Banes, advising him about the human rights of Guillen and Ybañez, noting that he has been receiving reports that some arrested rebels were being tortured and murdered.



“Ayon kasi sa report sa amin ng Anakbayan, diumano ay pinapahirapan at minsan pa nga ay pinapatay at tinatapon na lang kung saan ang mga nahuhuling NPA daw. Ang palagi ko lang naman sinasabi ay pairalin ang rule of law, lalo na kung menor de edad. Yan ang nasa batas natin, di ba?” Gascon said in an ambush interview on Monday.

Contributed by Renato Pasayao