CIDG files criminal complaints vs. CPP founder Joma Sison, three others before DOJ

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Monday said it filed different criminal complaints against Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Joma Sison and three other members.

In a statement, the CIDG said the complaints were filed by its director Police Major General Albert Ferro and Lady Desiree Miranda or “Ka Shane” with her two witnesses before the Department of Justice on Monday.

Sison is facing complaints for alleged violation of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 as well as the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

Similar complaints were filed against Redsa Balatan, who was the alleged recruiter of Miranda, the CIDG said.

Rey Dela Pena or “Reynaldo Santos” is facing complaints for the crime of rape (2 counts), while Joel Caliwliw is also facing a similar case (2 counts)

According to the CIDG, Miranda’s complaint claimed that she was recruited by the CPP at the age of 14 as a member of ANAKBAYAN.

She became CPP’s urban operator and joined the “communist terrorism” (Red Area Operation) at the CARABALLO Guerrilla Front covering the areas of Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, and Pangasinan, it added.

She became a full-fledged member of the group at the age of 18, according to the CIDG.

“Miranda was an example of a trafficked child who completed the cycle of the act of recruitment, deception, and exploitative purpose to engage a child in armed activities by the CTG,” it said.

In 2016, the CIDG said Miranda was allegedly raped by her commander Dela Pena.  In 2018, the CIDG added that Miranda was again allegedly sexually assaulted by NPA commander Caliwliw.

According to the CIDG, Miranda called the attention of CPP’s officials on the matter.

But the CIDG said she was “mocked, maligned as somebody who have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a 'sex addict' and she was likewise branded as mentally deranged.”

Balatan, Dela Pena, and Caliwliw are currently detained at Nueva Ecija Provincial Jail in Cabanatuan City; at Bambang Police Station in Nueva Vizcaya; and at BJMP Provincial Jail in Nueva Vizcaya, respectively.

Sison is in the Netherlands, the CIDG said.

“The CIDG, as mandated by law, has the duty to serve and protect the country and its citizenry without prejudice or bias," Ferro said.

“The justice that KA “SHANE” wants to get is now in the hands of the DOJ based on the witnesses and evidence that the complainant and the CIDG presented,” he added.

Harassment

CPP information officer Marco Valbuena, however, believes the charges are only a “desperate attempt to harass” Sison and others.

“I don't think any self-respecting judge will allow this case to prosper,” Valbuena told GMA News Online.

He stressed that the New People’s Army upholds children and women’s rights.

“The NPA applies rules and policies to protect the rights of women. Its basic rules stipulate against taking liberties against women. Rape is considered a crime,” he said.

“The NPA is not like the AFP which has a misogynist as commander-in-chief and whose soldiers strike fear and terror among the people, especially against women,” he added.

Despite this, Malacañang has said that Duterte does not hate women even if he has made disparaging statements against them.—With Joahna Lei Casilao/AOL, GMA News