Byron wages war vs. cause-oriented group

Capitol consultant on security matters Byron Garcia declares war against cause-oriented group Karapatan. "I am declaring war against Karapatan. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. The gloves are off. Gubat na ta," Garcia said. Enraged over allegations of Karapatan that anomalous transactions happen at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, Garcia accused the group of spreading lies to the media.

He added that Karapatan is also "riding on the loopholes of the laws."

"Anybody in the Philippines, compare CPDRC in terms of discipline, facilities, cleanliness and especially ang rasyon sa food to the other rehabilitation centers. Palihug intawon, tan-awa ang BBRC," Garcia added referring to the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center. Garcia has already formally filed extortion charges before the City Prosecutors Office against CPDRC political detainees Jigger Geverola, Edgardo Sacamay, Ronald Sandrijas, Jerry Pelerico, and Antonio Castillon.

He included Noemi Truya-Abarientos, the wife of Karapatan officer Dennis Abarientos; Liza Badayos who is the common law wife of Jigger Geverola, lawyers Rex Fernandez and Alfonso Cinco IV, and a certain Ka Rio de la Montaña who sits as regional spokesperson of the National Democratic Front in Central Visayas.

Garcia sought legal advice from his counsel, lawyer Lito Astillero, for other possible charges he would file against Geverola''s group. Further, he hopes that Judge Gaudioso Villarin would not be intimidated by the National People''s Army. Villarin of the Toledo Regional Trial Court Branch 59 ordered maximum security for Jigger Geverola in line with his campaign sorties this Sunday, April 22; on May 6, and also during the election day in barangay Gutlang, Argao town where he is running for a seat at the municipal council.

Garcia described barangay Gutlang as "NPA infested". He then asked if the judge wanted his men to be killed there. "Kami, di gyud mi mohatag og maximum security since that would mean six men - two in front, two at the sides, and two in tail," he pointed out. The conflict between Garcia and Geverola worsened when Karapatan through Fernandez allegedly asked for a "P50,000 settlement and five M16s and M14 rifles for them to stop bugging Garcia regarding his management of the CPDRC."

Garcia stressed records would show he pawned jewelry worth P35,000 at a pawnshop in Fuente Osmeña and withdrew P15,000 from his ATM account to comply with the amount asked. Then he said he proceeded to a mall at the North Reclamation Area where he met Fernandez and handed over the money. He made it clear that Fernandez never did happen to be his lawyer in negotiating with the NPA. "Igo ra siyang ning-relay," he said. He added that he never asked for contracts with the NPA as what Fernandez said in an earlier interview (not in this paper though). What he did, Garcia described, is a "tried and tested strategy in the art of war - trapping the opponent."

Earlier, political detainees Geverola, Sacamay, Sandrijas, Pelerico and Castillon were moved to the Central Command after Leo Suico, the chairman of the Inmates Council of Leaders, asked that "NPAs nga mga samokan sa jail be separated." Geverola is reportedly considered a high-risk inmate, being charged for arson.

Suico said yesterday that "there is a peaceful community over at the CPDRC, that the rationing of food is good, and that there are job-outs for inmates to generate income." Also, they are allowed to get involved in recreational activities like ball games.

"Dili mi gusto nga gamiton ni Jigger [Geverola] sa iyang political campaign. Gusto nila nga mo-go against mi sa gobyerno," Suico added. - Jona B. Bering, CNU intern/MEEV