Human rights group Karapatan-Negros yesterday slammed the military for strengthening its legal offensives against the New People’s Army, and members of legal progressive organizations.

Its secretary general, Fred Caña, yesterday described Col. Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, as a “dictator”, who, he claimed, ordered his contacts in the prosecutor’s office and the PNP to file non-bailable charges against what he called as innocent people.

Caña said several cases, including non-bailable and trumped-up charges filed against innocent victims, including officers and members of progressive organizations, had been dismissed by the court.

Lactao had earlier ordered military and police commanders to strengthen their legal offensives against NPA leaders, after the release, after posting bail of several arrested rebel leaders in Negros.

He also stressed the importance of teamwork among military and police, that, he said, has already produced results, citing the checkpoints, that led to the arrest of two NPA leaders and the interception of armed red fighters, all in San Carlos City, in previous months.

Several top rebel leaders arrested in Negros Occidental, including Romeo Natan, regional commander of the NPA, Marilyn Badayos, Mary Grace Delicano-Sumayang, Nilda Natan Bertulano, Rogelio Danoso, Hernando Llorente, rejoined their comrades in the mountains, after their release from jail, military records also show.

They have been charged in court for robbery-in-band and arson, which are bailable offenses.

Caña said exorbitant bail bonds required by the courts added more sufferings to victims and their families, who contributed for them to gain temporary freedom, until their case have been resolved.

He called on victims of so-called trumped up cases to unite and stand for their right, by filing counter-charges against military officers and their false witnesses, as well as state prosecutors proven to be behind the filing of fabricated charges

Military records also show that more than P2 million had been spent by the CPP-NPA and their supporters to bail out their arrested rebel leaders in Negros island. *GPB

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