PNP-CIDG files criminal raps vs Joma, NPA rebels
CRIMINAL charges have been filed against the top Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) leaders led by self-exiled Jose Ma. Sison and at least 53 other NPA rebels were accused of committing several acts of atrocities that left one civilian dead in Guilhungan City in Negros Occidental in June 2018, Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) Director Major General Eliseo DC Cruz said on Saturday.
The charges for violation of Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes against Humanity were filed against the accused before the Guilhungan City Prosecutor’s Office by the CIDG Regional Field Unit 7, the official said in a report to PNP Chief General Dionardo B. Carlos.
Cruz identified those charged as Joma Sison and fellow top CPP officials Benito A. Tiamzon alias “Crising Bonaag” and his wife Wilma E. Tiamzon alias “Azun”, and NPA leaders Lenman Turmis, Cristitoto Nilles Jr., Macario Fat Jr., Jercel Gonzaga, and Benjack Tecson and 50 other John Does.
The accused NPA rebels were tagged as members of the CPP/NPA Negros Front 1.
Maj. Gen. Cruz said that the case stemmed from an incident in June 2018 when more or less 70 fully armed men believed to be members of the CPP/NPA arrived in Barangay Humay-Humay in Guihilngan City and, without any apparent reason, sprayed bullets into the house of Lenmar and Landino Cabasag.
As a result, Lenman suffered gunshot wounds in the head and died on the spot.
Minutes later, the gunmen raked the residence of Mike Jakusalem with automatic gunfire.
Accordingly, Turmis, Nilles, Fat, Gonzaga, and Tecson entered the victim’s house and tied his hands before ransacking the place and taking at least P30,000 in cash.
However, before leaving the place, the suspects shot the victim in the head, seriously damaging his skull and left eye.
Maj. Gen. Cruz said that the same CIDG unit previously filed charges for murder, frustrated murder, and robbery against the accused last March 7.
“The CIDG assures the victims and the public that relentless efforts are being exerted to ensure that justice will be served against radical groups for causing terror and fear as well as disrupting peace and security in the community,” Cruz said.
