By Jennifer P. Rendon
Hundreds of police officers joined the extensive, and perhaps the most wide-reaching, raids on alleged lairs of the New People’s Army in the provinces of Capiz and Iloilo.
The operations claimed the lives of at least nine persons, Police Lieutenant Colonel Gervacio Balmaceda Jr., Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 6 (CIDG-6) regional director, said.
Balmaceda said the actual operation started at around 5 am of Dec 30, 2020.
As the leading operating unit, CIDG gathered its personnel from its regional offices in the National Capital Region, Western Visayas, and Region 4-A.
The CIDG was with operating forces from the Regional Mobile Force Battalipn 6 (RFMB-6), the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), the Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO), and the Regional Intelligence Unit 6 (RIU-6).
Despite earlier reports of Philippine Army support, Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, Western Visayas police chief, said the raids were purely police operations.
Miranda said that only police officers were involved in the simultaneous implementation of search warrant against alleged CTG (communist terrorist group) target personalities in Panay Island.
It was gathered that the Office of the Chief PNP and the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) oversaw the operations.
Twenty-eight search warrants were implemented covering 7 barangays in Tapaz, Capiz (Daan Sur, Lahug, Acuña, Aglinab, Roosevelt, Tacayan, and Nayawan) and two (Garangan and Masaroy) in Calinog, Iloilo.
Sixteen persons were arrested – nine from Tapaz and seven from Calinog – while three others remain at large.
A police officer was also wounded during the operation in Capiz.
Balmaceda said that nine villages are considered NPA-influenced or infiltrated barangays.
The subjects of the operations are either suspected NPAs or their sympathizers.
“But the main purpose of the operation was because we received information that they’ve been keeping unlicensed firearms and even explosives,” Balmaceda said.
All warrants of arrests were secured in a Metro Manila court against the suspects for violations of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) and RA 9156 or the illegal possession of explosives.
MURDERED OR RESISTED?
Families of those who were killed or arrested in the Capiz operations claimed innocence in allegations labeled against them.
Ruice John Gayas, a resident of Barangay Ahlinag, Tapaz told Bombo Radyo-Roxas that they were sleeping when the police arrived.
Gayas claimed that the operatives wanted them to sign the search warrant.
When he refused, they were ordered to go out of the house, except for his father, who was sleeping.
His father was then shot while asleep. His father’s cadaver was then wrapped in blanket and removed from the scene.
They also found a packaging tape which may have been used to muffle his father’s mouth.
Meanwhile, Rosana Capillo of Barangay Acuña, Tapaz said they were roused from their sleep when the raiding team suddenly kicked their fence.
Rosana is the wife of Barangay Kagawad Ferdinand Capillo, one of the subjects of the search operation.
Rosana claimed that government troops who entered their house poked a gun at them and told them to duck.
She was asked where they allegedly slept while other operatives went inside their room with a firearm, ammunition, and a hand grenade.
Rosana alleged they even turned over their homemade firearm and repeatedly told authorities that they are not NPA members.
She later pleaded with the operatives not to harm them.
Meanwhile, Barangay Captain Julie Catamin of Roosevelt village in Tapaz lamented that the search operation was not coordinated with them.
Catamin claimed that those who were searched were not rebels.
He asserted that he knew their constituents and most of those were arrested were ordinary farmers and innocent elderly.
But Miranda refuted Catamin’s statement.
“‘Yan ang claim ni Chairman (Catamin) kasi NPA naman si Chairman. Alam mo naman ‘yung background ni Chairman at asawa nya pati mga bayaw nya. Mga supporters ng NPA ‘yan,” he said.
Miranda said Catamin’s wife and brother-in-law stood as “leaders” in their bagangay.
“Supporters sila ng NPA. Kaya kahit anong sabihin nila against sa gobyerno, naiintindihan ko sila,” he said. “We expect it from them. Kasi nga naka-link sila doon sa NPA.”
Miranda said they already expected that charges will be hurled against them as a result of the operations.
