PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., has ordered the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) to further intensify its legal offensive versus the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA) by hauling to court its members who have committed a series of atrocities in the countryside, the Journal Group was told.

The top cop said he wants the PNP-CIDG headed by Brigadier Gen. Ronald O. Lee to continue to press police operations to account for members of the CPP/NPA and their affiliates who are already the subject of warrants of arrest issued by judicial authorities for crimes against the people.

Gen. Azurin maintained that the PNP’s legal offensive action against the CPP-NPA will continue with renewed vigor, particularly against key personalities wanted by the law to stand trial for their crime before the justice system.

In line with the PNP chief’s instruction, the PNP-CIDG last week filed three separate criminal charges for violation of Republic Act 9851 or The Philippine Act on Crimes against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and other Crimes Against Humanity against three groups of NPA rebels.

The PNP-CIDG also named in their criminal suits as ‘principals by indirect participation and inducement and command responsibility’ self-exiled CPP chairman Jose Ma. Sison, Luis Jalandoni and members of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines negotiating panel Maria Concepcion Araneta Bocala alias ‘Concha Araneta Bocala/Concha Araneta’ and Porferio Tuna Jr.

Also charged before the office of San Jose, Antique Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Jehiel Cusa were Roquel Nebres alia ‘Ka Sario/Royroy’ Jeffrey Elgaran Sebonga alias ‘Ka Bimbim/Jade,’ Joven Ceralbo alias ‘Ka Lex,’ Renz Taguibe alias ‘Ka Blu,’ a certain ‘Ka Badong,’ one alias ‘Ka Elay,’ a certain ‘Ka Ronron’ and 20 other John and Peter Does who were all described as members of the CPP/NPA Guerrilla Front 11’s Napoleon Tumagtang Command operating in Panay.

The cases stemmed from an NPA attack on June 2, 2018 along the national highway in Barangay Fabrica in Hamtic, Antique where suspected rebels used a gas torch and sacks of rice to burn heavy equipment worth P3.7 million.

The arson attack came after the F & J Construction Company reportedly refused to heed the NPA demand for so-called ‘revolutionary tax.’

“These overt acts committed by the suspects are a clear violation of the laws and customs applicable in armed conflict under RA 9851,” said Brig. Gen. Lee.

The PNP-CIDG also filed similar criminal charges against six suspected NPA members before the Kidapawan City Prosecutor’s Office in North Cotabato.

Charged with violation of RA 9851 were Imac Potenciano alias ‘Ka Cear,’ Dariel Mag-anday alias ‘Ka Tonton/Balongoy/Sangay,’ Ruel Caballes alias ‘Ka Aman,’ Gary Almene alias ‘Ka Gagay/Imao,’ Charisse Bernadine Bañez alias ‘Ka Nikki’ and Winnie Engay alias ‘Ka Michael’

Lee said the charges were triggered by their findings that the accused recruited a minor from Kabalantian, Arakan, North Cotabato to join the rebel movement and subjected him to undergo training on how to attack and ambush PNP and Armed Forces personnel.

The PNP-CIDG director said they learned that under the supervision of Almene, the teenager was issued his first firearm-an AK-47 assault rifle—and was named as an NPA platoon leader tasked to harass military detachments and policemen in the mountainous areas of Arakan and its nearby towns.

“We in the interest of justice are committed to pursue the PNP’s legal offensive against the CPP/NPA to prevent the terrorist group from poisoning our children’s minds and causing them to take up arms against the government,” said Lee.

The official also assured that there is an ongoing government effort to thwart moves by the CPP/NPA to recruit young students into joining the underground movement thru deceit and other promises.

Another case for violation of RA 9851 was also filed by the PNP-CIDG against a group of NPA members led by one ‘Ka Armando Magbanua’ last August 31.

Lee said Magbanua and six other still unidentified members of the CPP/NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon Negros-Cebu-Bohol-Siquijor’ were charged before the office of Bacolod City Prosecutor Charles Tupas.

He added that the charges were filed in connection with a complaint from the management of the Hacienda Vicente LN Agustin Farm, Incorporated that after they ignored the NPA’s demand for revolutionary tax, the suspects went to their place where they indiscriminately fired their weapons to scare workers and other residents before burning a farm tractor worth P800,000.