Col. Cesar Yano, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade in Negros Oriental is daring a medical doctor suspected of being a member of the Communist New People’s Army, and who is facing charges of murder and multiple frustrated murder, to “face the music.”

Yano was reacting yesterday to allegations of militant groups about alleged “trumped-up” charges filed against Dr. Oliver Gimenez.

“That is normal for the Communist movement, they have what they call the white area operations, where unarmed members usually carry out their activities in urban centers,” Yano said.

He added that, in the same manner that Army personnel charged in relation to the anti-insurgency campaign are asked to explain themselves in court, Gimenez must also do the same.

“We do not even cry foul. If they file a case against me or my personnel, I don’t even say they are trumped-up”, he added.

The Inter-Agency Legal Action Group in the province had filed multiple frustrated murder charges against 16 people, including suspected top-ranking officers of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon Sentral Bisayas after an Army lieutenant and a civilian were wounded during an encounter on Sept. 8 in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental.

Named respondents in the case were Roy Erecre, Tebur Erecre, Bernanrd Alvarez, Oliver Gimenez, Benjamin Silva, Rustico Tan, Felimon Mendrez, Ramon Patriarca, Misael dela Cruz, Julit Aban, Benjamin Ediloverio, Romeo Nabas, Sonny Abodiente, Arjan Abodiente, Jessie Almens

Militant groups such as the Karapatan, Promotion of Church People’s Rights and Kaugmaon-Negros Oriental staged Friday a silent protest at the Hall of Justice in support of Gimenez, and sent an open letter to Provincial Prosecutor Diosdado Hermosa asking the court to stand by the truth.

Joseph Lagorra of the PCPR in the province said Gimenez is the Community Empowerment Resource Network executive director based in Cebu, but his non-government organization has helped the poor by providing basic health services.

A press statement from CERNET said Gimenez is a development worker and human rights advocate who had been serving as a physician in various medical and humanitarian missions in depressed and militarized communities in the Visayas.

Gimenez is also facing another murder charge, with several others, for the death of Pfc. Reynald Ramos, who was killed during a clash between rebel troops and government forces on Sept. 25, also in Sta. Catalina town.

Yano said he believes that the court is fair and objective and that justice will always prevail.

“Let us respect the law and the law will always protect us”, he added.*JFP

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