DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 30, 2012) – Philippine troops have detained a village leader on suspicion he is supporting communist insurgents in the southern town of Lupon.
The official, Junifer Nabales, was invited to a meeting in the village hall and then detained by soldiers from the 28th Infantry Battalion. Nabales is believed being held inside the army base in the town.
Rafael dela Cruz, a spokesman for the NPA’s Wilfredo Zapanta Command, accused the military of violating the rights of Nabales. His wife and four children are now suffering because of the illegal arrest.
“The 28th Infantry Battalion under the 701st Infantry Brigade is notorious for various human rights abuses in the towns of Lupon, Banaybanay, San Isidro, Gov. Generoso and Mati, all in Davao Oriental. It has served as a private army of mining firms AMCOR, Oz Min, Phil. Youbang and Anaconda mining, which exploit the nickel, copper and gold resources in the province,” he said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
Dela Cruz’s accusations could not be immediately confirmed and the Philippine Army has not issued any statement about the alleged arrest of Nabales.
The NPA is fighting for decades now for a separate Maoist state in the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)
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