De Lima OK with hospital arrest for Ka Roger’s daughter

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Friday said the arrested daughter of the late rebel spokesperson Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal has the option to ask for a hospital arrest.

Andrea Rosal, eight months pregnant, was arrested with two others on Thursday morning in Caloocan City by virtue of arrest warrants for murder issued by the Mauban, Quezon Regional Trial Court Branch 64.

“I don't have a problem with that provided the court allows it,” De Lima told reporters, referring to the possible hospital arrest for Andrea.

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Special Investigator 3 Aldrin Mercader said during the arrest, a joint team from the military and the NBI made it a point not to alarm people inside the residence in consideration of Andrea's health condition.

“Eight months na siya, ika-ninth ngayon. First baby niya and ang reason why she's here in Manila kasi may complications siya. Maselan iyong pagbubuntis niya," Mercader said

“Because of her medical condition, hindi namin in-assault iyong bahay. We took that into consideration, iyong health condition niya dahil baka magka-komplikasyon,” he added.

The NBI agent assured the public that if needed, authorities will send Andrea to a nearby hospital in case she goes into labor.

Details of arrest

Mercader said Andrea did not resist arrest but initially denied she is Rosal's daughter.

"We showed her the warrant of arrest. Nung nakita niya, tumahimik siya. Medyo bumagsak ang mukha niya," said Mercader, adding that soon after showing Andrea the warrant, she was brought to an ambulance outside and taken to the NBI headquarters in Manila.

Mercader said Andrea was positively identified by a communist rebel returnee.

Arrested with Andrea were her supposed bodyguard Rafael "Jomel" de Guzman and Barangay Captain Ruben Gatchalian.

Mercader said De Guzman was charged along with Andrea in the kidnapping with murder case pending with the Quezon court. Gatchalian, meanwhile, was slapped with obstruction of justice for harboring Andrea and De Guzman.

Mercader said Gatchalian tried “stalling” the arresting officers supposedly to allow Andrea to escape. “Gatchalian tried to stall us para siguro makatakas sila Andrea pero dahil madami kami, ang iba naming kasama nag-spread out na, nahuli din namin sila," he said.

Mercader said the NBI is currently preparing a "return of warrant" that it will be sending to the Quezon court to inform it of Andrea's arrest.

Earlier, the military said Rosal, who allegedly uses the aliases “Naiya” and “Liam,” was also implicated in an attempted homicide case filed in Luisiana-Cavinti court in Laguna.

One of the arrest warrants against Andrea, issued June 16, 2011, was for murder, while thr second one, issued March 23, 2012, was for kidnapping with murder. Both charges are non-bailable.

Andrea had denied committing any crime. — KBK, GMA News