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News ReleaseMay 10, 2014

Reference: Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, 09177174014

BAYAN MUNA: AFP USING ‘FALL GUY’ MODUS OPERANDI IN EFFECTING ARRESTSSays South Cotabato anti-mining activist a victim of this AFP modus            Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Carlos Zarate today hit the systematic effort of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) of using “fall guys” in running after the supposed leaders of the underground communist movement.

Rep. Zarate cited the May 2, 2014 abduction and illegal detention of activist Romeo “Ging” Rivera, a member of the anti-mining  Tampakan Panalipdan (Protect Tampakan),a group that has been vigorously opposing the presence of  the proposed open-pit mining  site of Xstrata’s Sagittarius Mines Inc. in Tampakan, South Cotabato. 

Last May 2,   Rivera’s family reported that he was forcibly taken by armed men from their residence in Koronadal, South Cotabato.     However, the military subsequently presented and claimed him as one Felix Armodia, an alleged ranking NPA leader operating in the areas of South Cotabato,  Sarangani and Davao del Sur, who was allegedly “arrested”  during a military operation in Tampakan, South Cotabato.            “This ‘fall guy’ trick used by the AFP is highly condemnable.   This was used during the 2006 enforced disappearance of Jonas Burgos,  who was also abducted by military operatives in a mall in Quezon City.  This is also the same pattern used with the illegal arrest of security guard Rolly Panesa,” Rep. Zarate said.   In October 2012, Panesa,  an innocent security guard,  was arrested and presented by the AFP as one Benjamin Mendoza, a supposed ranking CPP leader with a P5.6 million reward on his head.   However,  in August 27, 2013, the Court of Appeals ordered Panesa’s release following a habeas corpus petition filed by his family.  “Ironically, despite the court’s ruling that Panesa is not Mendoza, the already claimed and paid bounty is yet to be returned by the AFP,” said Rep. Zarate.

“This is an old condemnable trick of  the security forces:  arresting innocent civilians and conveniently presenting them as  leaders of the underground movement.    From Arroyo’s Bantay Laya to the present Oplan Bayanihan counter-insurgency campaign of the Aquino administration, the pattern remains the same. First, they will vilify critics of the regime and even ordinary citizens as leaders of the CPP-NPA-NDF, and then they will be subjected to surveillance, harassment, illegal arrests or even ‘neutralization’ by being victims  of enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killings,”  Rep. Zarate said.    “Congress must investigate this and craft possible law that will put an end to this despicable practice.” ###

For more information, please contact Bayan Muna media officer Carl Ala at 09175110459