The two suspected leaders of the New People’s Army in northern Negros, who are facing robbery-in-band charges, walked out of jail yesterday after posting bail of P80,000.

Cadiz City Regional Trial Court Judge Renato Munez, who issued the arrest warrant for Hernando Lorente and his wife, Faith Roseen Basergo, was the one who ordered their release yesterday from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facilities in Sagay City.

Llorente, who is alleged by the military to be the commander of the Sentro de Grabidad platoon of the Northern Negros Front, and his wife, Basergo, former NNF secretary-turned- political instructress, was among those charged for robbery-in-band, in connection with the raid of the fish farm of Joseph Edgar Sarrosa, a nephew of Governor Joseph Maranon, in Brgy. Bulanon, Sagay City, last year.

Col. Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, yesterday said the Armed Forces of the Philippines accepts the decision of the court in granting bail to the two NPA leaders and stressed that this is line with the IPSP Bayanihan’s imperative for the rule of law.

“I again call the attention of our lawmakers that maybe it is time to enact a special law to address an organized crime group, such as the NPA to prevent them from posting bail, and then go back to the armed struggle and killing fellow Negrenses again”, Lactao said.

Llorente, alias Ka Ador, and Basergo, alias Ka Bea, were jailed for a week, after their arrest on April 20 at a police and military checkpoint in Brgy. Punao, San Carlos City.

Lactao said more than P2 million has already been spent to bail out more than 10 arrested NPA leaders in Negros, who later rejoined the revolutionary movement to wage a continuing armed struggle.

Military records also show that Llorente, as platoon leader of the NPA striking force in northern Negros, was also linked to the attack at a military outpost in Brgy. Bug-ang, Toboso, on August 28, 2010, which led to the brutal killing of its detachment commander.

Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta, 3rd Infantry Division commander, said Negrenses should be aware of the repercussions of their release, adding that their temporary freedom will give them again the opportunity to commit atrocities against the people of Negros. * GPB

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