DOJ to indict 6 suspected communist rebels
GOVERNMENT prosecutors have recommended the indictment of six suspected members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) for murder and violation of Republic Act No. 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
This was after probable cause was established against respondents Isagani Isita, Junalice Arante-Isita, Mariano Bico, Gilbert Orr, and two other individuals during preliminary investigation.
Appropriate charges are set to be filed against them before the Batangas City Regional Trial Court, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a press briefer.
Records showed that on July 18, 2022, members of the Philippine Army’s 59th Infranty Batallion were conducting Focused Military Operations in Sitio Amatong, Barangay Ginhawa in Taysan town when they encountered the respondents who were said to be heavily-armed.
The respondents allegedly fired upon the soldiers resulting to injuries on one of the government forces, and the death of a civilian — a nine-year-old girl.
Meanwhile, the CPP in a statement denounced the DOJ for the alleged cover-up of nine-year old Kyllene Casao’s death last July 18, 2022 in Batangas.
In a statement, the CPP said: “Instead of filing charges against the officers and men involved in the indiscriminate firing which led to the death of Casao, the DOJ plans to file charges against six people who are being linked to the CPP and New People’s Army (NPA). This clearly aims to exculpate the criminal fascist officers and men of the 59th IB by shifting the blame to the NPA despite the fact that no NPA unit was in the area during the commission of the despicable crime. ”
According to the CPP, Kyllene and her father, residents of Sitio Centro, Barangay Guinhawa in Taysan town, were indiscriminately fired at by a unit of the 59th IB positioned at the nearby elementary school.
Kyllene was fatally hit and did not make it to the hospital.
