PNP OIC Gamboa to nabbed activists during raids: Prove yourselves in court

Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa on Monday challenged activists arrested during simultaneous raids in Bacolod and Manila to prove that they are innocent.

At a press conference, Gamboa was asked to comment on the allegations of some leftist groups that pieces of evidence were planted during the raids.

"Let them prove themselves in court if they say that these are planted. Siguro naman kung ma-prove nila 'yan sa court, then necessarily the cases will be dismissed," Gamboa said.

The PNP OIC said planting of evidence was the usual allegation when authorities conduct search warrants or legitimate operations.

"That's why the law provides na dapat may kasama kayong media, local government units who will witness the service of the search warrant to avert all of these allegations," Gamboa said.

Last week, operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Region VI, the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID), Joint Task Force-Negros, and Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCCPO) raided the offices of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Gabriela Negros Center, and the Negros Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) in Bacolod City.

During the raid in Bacolod, NFSW secretary-general John Milton Lozande; community journalist May-Anne Krueg; Proceso Quiatchon of Karapatan; Aldrin Dela Cerna of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas; Danny Tabura of NFSW, and six minors who are members of Teatro Obrero were among those nabbed.

In Manila, authorities arrested Gabriela chairperson Cora Agovida and her partner Michael Bartolome for alleged illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives.

Leftist group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) earlier claimed that security forces planted evidence during their raids in Bacolod, which was supposedly under the "tanim ebidensya modus."

Moreover, the National Union of People's Lawyers said the High Tribunal should review the issuance of the warrants which led to the arrest of more or less 60 activists.

Meanwhile, Gamboa said authorities would also build up cases against these activists as regards their alleged connection to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA).

"Later on we are starting to build up cases to prove to them na they are supporting the CPP-NPA kaya nagkaganito sa Republika eh because some of the other non-government organizations na kunwari humanitarian sila but they are doing otherwise," Gamboa said. —KG, GMA News