Three local Reds sentenced over rebellion charges

By Ronron
February 9, 2007

Three local officials of the Maoist New People’s Army (NPA) in Surigao del Sur were sentenced to imprisonment on Friday after pleading guilty to rebellion charges before the local court.

Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Officer, identified the convicts as Lucie Canda, alias Madie, Deputy Secretary/Financial Officer of the NPA’s Front Committee (FC) 14; Jocelyn Campus, alias Cecil, Medic Staff of FC 14; and, Victorino Segura, alias Diesel, Vice Team Leader of FC 14.

Bacarro said the three were among those charged of rebellion, led by Jose Ma. Sison, political consultant of the Communist Party of the Philippines, before the Bislig City Regional Trial Court, 11th Judicial Region, Branch 29.

The three were arrested in October 2006 during a military operation by the Philippine Army’s 36th Infantry Battalion at Sitio Greenfields in Sta. Juana, Tagbina, Surigao del Sur. The site was recently tagged by the AFP as the NPA’s biggest bomb-making factory and ammunition depot in Mindanao.

Bacarro said that during the court hearing at 9am, the three pleaded guilty immediately before Presiding Judge Merlyn Cañedo.

As a result, Cañedo sentenced them to 12-years, one-day to 14 years of imprisonment.

Bacarro said the judgment rendered on the three is another victory in the AFP’s continuing drive against the insurgency problem in the country, which is now in its 38th year.

The military official reported that just the other day (Thursday), at 1 pm, elements of the 36IB also recovered war materials believed to be left behind by the NPA at Sitio Anislagan, also in Sta. Juana.

Bacarro said the government troops recovered 11 pieces of claymore mines; one unit of Kenwood handheld radio; one caliber 38 pistol; one caliber 45 with silencer; 100-meter long wire roll (Diamond brand); 10-meter long hose; two pieces plumber tube; one chainsaw; one piece improvised ammunition; five spare parts of ammunition reloader; one motorcycle; and alleged subversive documents.

“This goes to show that we are serious in achieving our goal of neutralizing the communist movement by 2010, as directed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,” Bacarro said./DMS