The Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade yesterday strongly demanded the release of its detained leader, who was arrested Thursday by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, despite the ongoing peace negotiations with the government.

RPA-ABB spokesman Victorino Sumulong yesterday described the apprehension of Jose Tanaman, alias Ka Juner, who was taken at gunpoint by CIDG operatives from his residence in Sitio Mag-anay, Brgy. Bi-ao, Binalbagan, in the absence of any search warrant or arrest warrant, as a hostile and treacherous acts, which was done after the profiling of all their members.

Sumulong said the alleged murder charges filed against Tanaman, one of the RPA-ABB leaders in the 5th district of Negros Occidental, took place in 1991, and is under the coverage of the civil and political cases as stipulated under the provision of the peace agreement.

Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, has confirmed that Tanaman has a pending arrest warrant for murder. But as part of the confidence building measures, in line with the imminent closure of the peace process, the serving of an arrest warrant to RPA-ABB members, whose crimes was committed, while they were still in the underground movement, supposedly should be set aside in the meantime, he added.

Guisihan ordered the transfer of Tanaman from the Binalbagan Police Station to the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office for custody, pending clarification with the Office Of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process on the serving of arrest warrant .

Sumulong said armed CIDG operatives barged into the residence of Tanaman, while he and members of his family were sleeping, took and handcuffed him at gunpoint, and brought him to the Binalbagan Police Station.

“We strongly demand that the OPPAP and the Philippine National Police investigate the incident and release Ka Juner”, he said.

The recent completion of the profiling of RPA-ABB members in Negros and Panay islands is a prelude to the actual signing of a closure to the peace agreement between the rebel group and the government, within the first semester of 2012.* GPB

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