‘This is the same old story’: Activists demand release of Amanda Echanis

Progressive groups on Thursday pointed out state forces' "modus operandi" of nocturnal raids and supposed recoveries of firearms from activists as they demanded the immediate release of Amanda Echanis, the daughter of the slain peasant leader Randall Echanis.

Maria Sol Taule of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers said Amanda's arrest in the wee hours of Wednesday followed the same "pattern" as the arrests of other people whom police and military accuse of links to the communist rebel movement.

"This is the same old story of the police and military sa pangra-raid sa mga pinagbibintangan nilang members, sympathizers ng CPP-NPA," Taule said at a press conference.

She said the procedure is to implement a supposed search warrant at nighttime -- supposedly without witnesses -- and plant firearms and explosives which officers would then use to justify arrests.

These were the same circumstances in the case of Reina Mae Nasino and two other activists who were arrested in Manila and of dozens of members of progressive groups in Negros last year, Taule said.

All of them face charges for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Cristina Palabay, the secretary general of human rights watchdog Karapatan, said hundreds of so-called political prisoners in the country are accused of the same crime through the same "modus operandi."

In the case of Amanda, her fellow activists said soldiers raided her house, where she was sleeping with her one-month-old baby, past 3 a.m. They said there was a simultaneous raid on the nearby home of farmer leader Isabelo Adviento, who was not there at the time.

Police said they were implementing a search warrant. Police allegedly found an M-16 rifle, ammunition, and a grenade at Amanda's house and denied these were planted evidence.

But Amanda's supporters questioned why she would have such dangerous items in her house when she has a newborn child with her.

Linda Lacaba Echanis, Randall's wife and Amanda's mother, said they were still in mourning for her murdered husband when Amanda was arrested.

"Nananawagan kami na agad mapalaya ang aking anak na si Amanda at ang kanyang bagong silang na anak na lalake," Linda said.

Meanwhile, Taule called on jail authorities to respect Amanda's right to breastfeed her baby, who is in custody with her. The baby's name is Randall Emmanuel, after his two grandfathers Randall Echanis and Emman Lacaba. 

The lawyer said they do not want to see another Baby River. River was the daughter of Nasino who died at three months old in October, just more than a month after she was separated from her mother, who is in jail in Manila.

"We don't want another Baby River, wala pang ilang buwan ang nakakalipas, ganito na naman yung storya," Taule said.

"Ano po ba ang contempt natin sa mga kababaihan, yung government, sa kababaihan, ina at mga sanggol. Ito na lang ba ang kaya nating tugisin na inosenteng mamamayan?" she asked.—LDF, GMA News