38 health workers still with military despite court order

The military has once again failed to transfer 38 of the 43 health workers arrested for allegedly being communist rebels to police custody. Armed Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos said they were about to transfer the 38 last Friday as ordered by a local court when they got word that the Philippine National Police (PNP) had filed another motion for reconsideration against it. “When everything was set for the transport of the 38 detainees, the transfer has to be postponed to a later date due to the Omnibus motion for reconsideration filed by the Philippine National Police Custodial Center," said Burgos. The 43 – dubbed as “Morong 43" – were arrested in a farm house last February 6 in Morong, Rizal, allegedly while on a bomb-making training. The transfer of 38 of them was ordered by acting Presiding Judge Amorfina Cerrado-Cesar ng Morong Regional Trial Court Branch 78. At present, the 38, who are facing illegal possession of firearms and explosives, are detained at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal. Progressive groups had staged rallies condemning the arrest as they insisted that the 43 were health workers. Five of the 43 had admitted that they were indeed members and supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA), the military claimed. Burgos said the police, in their motion, noted that the PNP Custodial Center is not a detention center and has limited space. He said the police also noted the risk in transporting the detainees from Tanay to Camp Crame in Quezon City. Armed Forces chief Gen. Delfin Bangit, meanwhile, assured that they would transfer the 38 once the petition of the PNP is resolved. “The Armed Forces will always follow the court order and the transfer of the 38 alleged NPA members will be done immediately after the petition is resolved," Bangit said. The military first attempted to transfer the 38 to Camp Crame last April 9, but the plan did not push through because of a motion for reconsideration filed by the PNP. Burgos said the first motion for reconsideration was denied by the Morong court. He said some of the reasons cited by the PNP in their second motion were a rehash from their old motion. - KBK, GMANews.TV