2 female militants in Escalante raid indicted

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Two members of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) believed to be members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Escalante City, Negros Occidental have been indicted for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives.

Their indictment was stated in two separate inquest resolutions penned by Associate Prosecution Attorney II Ericson Cepida and approved by Escalante City Prosecutor Ranela De La Fuente.

Indicted for violation of Republic Act (RA) 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) were Ma. Lindy Perocho, and Imelda Sultan, who are alleged deputy secretary and finance officer of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor (KR-NCBS), respectively.

But only Perocho was allowed to post the P120,000 bail.

Captain Cenon Pancito III, spokesperson of Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID), said they received a copy of the resolutions Friday, Nov 8.

The same suspects were also charged for violation of RA 9516 or the illegal possession of explosives with no bail.

The complaints were filed after authorities seized from the duo firearms and ammunition, and grenade launcher ammunition during the simultaneous raids conducted by Escalante City Police Station on their houses at Barangay Jonob-Jonob and Barangay Balintawak, respectively, last Nov 1.

The prosecutor recommended the filing of the charges before the Regional Trial Court in San Carlos City.

Meanwhile, the case of Gaspar Davao and Ernie Militar who were not arrested in the raid will undergo regular preliminary investigation, as cited in the resolution.

Meanwhile, 13 other militant leaders who were not arrested during the series of raids here were also charged for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives, Pancito said.

These 13 individuals who are at large, were also the subjects of the search warrants but were not present during last week’s operations at the offices of the Kilusang Mayo Uno, Gabriela, and NFSW here, he added.

They are added to the 11 arrested militant leaders who were already charged for the same offense and are considered by the police and the military as high-value individuals (HVIs). But, four of them were allowed to post bail.