The Roselyn “Ka Jean” Pelle Command of the New People’s Army yesterday refuted allegations that rebel leader Rogelio Danioso had molested the amazon, who surrendered recently to the 62nd Infantry Battalion in northern Negros.

Ka Cecille Estrella, spokesperson of the Roselyn Pelle Command, also said that the alleged rape victim had never been recruited into the NPA, although she acknowledged that the accuser is a local youth activist.

In a statement sent to the DAILY STAR, Estrella said the NPA in northern Negros strictly adheres to the implementation of the order of the Communist Party of the Philippines Central Committee that only those who are 18 years old and above can join the NPA.

Danioso has already been charged with two counts of rape before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Negros Occidental, in connection for the alleged molestation of Ka Shayna, whose real identity is being withheld.

Ka Shayna had claimed that she was molested twice, when she was 15 and then 16 years old, by Danioso, who had recruited her to join the NPA at the age of 12.

Estrella, however, said “The NPA is aware that she is a minor and can never be a member of the NPA.” As a local youth activist, she usually entered the encampment as a guest, mingled with young rebels aged 18 years old and above, and not as a member of the NPA, Estella also said, referring to Shayna.

Shayna, who is now 18, was among the 13 rebels who recently availed of livelihood and financial assistance from the Negros Occidental provincial government. Seven other minors are still with the NPA in northern Negros.

Estrella said the NPA has a high respect for the dignity and rights of women, and stressed that rape is a serious criminal offense punishable by death in the revolutionary movement.

She said she believes the testimonies of Shayna are based on a script written by the “psywar and expert liars” of the Philippine Army.

Estrella also condemned the Philippine Army of violating the rights of the young woman, by using her as guide in their military operations in the hinterlands of Toboso and Calatrava.

1Lt. Levi Dolojan, 62nd IB Civil Military Operations officer, however, denied claims that they are using the former rebel amazon as a guide in their military operations, but admitted that they invited Ka Shayna to be a speaker in one of their programs.

Estrella also claimed that the Philippine Army has gathered and desperately pressured former NPA rebels already living as ordinary civilians for two years, and parade them as active NPA members who surrendered. She insisted that not a single active NPA in northern Negros has surrendered to the military.*GPB

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