The Negros Oriental Provincial Prosecutor's Office will begin its preliminary investigation today on rebellion charges filed against three young people arrested after the clash Sunday, between Philippine Army troopers and suspected New People's Army rebels in Sitio Pulang Yuta in Barangay Mayabon, Zamboanguita town.

The three suspects, Ma. Carla Alvarico, Glenn Absin and Karlo Mikhail Cabahug, are expected to present their counter-affidavits before 2nd Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Elizabeth Bayhon.

Vimarie Arcilla, of the militant human rights group KARAPATAN-Central Visayas, said four lawyers, among them Susan Echavez, will represent the three.

Arcilla arrived in Negros Oriental Monday evening with Alvarico's parents and the mother of Cabahug from Cebu .

They proceeded to the Zamboanguita police station where the three are detained after they signed a waiver for detention Friday after the filing of a rebellion complaint against them by 1Lt. Ramon Salvador, Charlie Company commander of the 79th Infantry Battalion.

Salvador 's troops had arrested Alvarico, Absin and Cabahug following a brief exchange of gunfire with armed men believed to have been together with the three on board two motorcycles.

In that incident, Pfc. Angelo Mones sustained a gunshot wound on his right thumb.

Militant groups have condemned what they describe as another “trumped-up” charge against the young civilians who were merely visiting Negros Oriental.

Raffy Ducay, secretary general of the peasant group Kapunongan Alang sa Ugma sa Gagmay'ng Mag-uuma sa Oriental Negros-Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas said the three were in the province on a research project on bio-fuels.

Vimarie Arcilla described the arrest of the three as fabricated, but military and police officials insist that the presence of the three young people in a hardly accessible place like Pulang Yuta gives way to suspicion.

Arcilla said the parents of the suspects had sought the help of KARAPATAN.

She hinted that they are mulling the filing of human rights violations against the soldiers for alleged inhumane treatment during their arrest.*JFP

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