Quezon cops nab KMP leader on rebellion raps

A leader of militant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas was arrested Friday morning in Macalelon, Quezon province for rebellion.

Antonio Pajalla, 54, a vice chairman of the KMP, was nabbed around 9:30 am in Barangay Olongtao, Macalelon, Quezon, according to Macalelon  municipal police station head Chief Inspector Lalaine Malapascua.

"Sakay siya ng jeep nang mamataan siya sa Catanauan ng isang tauhan ng Quezon Province Public Safety Company (QPPSC). Humingi ng tulong sa amin kaya hinabol siya hanggang sa maabutan," Malapascua said in a phone interview with GMA News Online.

"Maayos naman siyang sumama sa amin nang ipakita ang order of arrest sa kaniya," she added.

She said the police in the area were not aware that Pajalla was a leader of KMP.

She said Pajalla claimed that he had amnesty but added that the police could not release him because there was a warrant for his arrest issued by a court in Gumaca.

"Sinabi namin sa kanya na i-produce niya yung mga papeles na magpapatunay na kasama siya sa amnesty program. Pero sa Monday pa namin mapa-process ang release order kung maipakita niya yung mga papeles," Malapascua said.

Malapascua said Pajalla had been contacted by his relatives.

Pajalla is now detained at the custodial facility of Macalelon police station, she added.

The KMP issued a press statement condemning the arrest of Pajalla.

“We condemn the arrest of peasant leader Tony Pajalla. We demand the Quezon-PNP to surface him as soon as possible,” said KMP Secretary General Antonio Flores.

He said the last known whereabouts of Pajalla was at the Macalelon Municipal Hall where he submitted solicitation letters for the upcoming regional assembly of the claimants movement Coco Levy Fund Ibalik sa Amin (CLAIM) next week.

He said Pajalla was able contact his colleagues and informed them of his arrest around 3pm.

“Pajalla, a long-time leader of the Pinagkaisang Lakas ng Magbubukid sa Quezon (PIGLAS) has led the coconut farmers of Quezon in their fight to recover the multibillion coco levy fund," Flores said.

"In fact, coconut farmers of Quezon province are preparing to march to the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and Malacanang in Manila to demand the immediate return of the coco levy fund to farmers,” he added.

Pajalla was appointed as KMP Vice Chairperson last month during its National Council Meeting. He is based in Quezon province. —NB, GMA News