Suspect claims he’s just a labor leader: 'NPA brass' falls to PNP, AFP team
A combined team from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) arrested early dawn yesterday a suspected high-ranking official of the New Peoples Army.
The team composed of elements from the Regional Intelligence Division of the Police Regional Office-7 and the Central Command nabbed Ricardo Bellamia on the strength of an alias warrant issued by Danao RTC Judge Sylvia Paderanga.
Bellamia, a labor leader, is suspected to be involved in the attacks on military outposts in mid-northern
The suspect, who is 47 years old, is facing charges of rebellion and no bail has been recommended for his temporary liberty.
Sr. Supt. Augusto M. Marquez, Jr., chief of the RID told reporters that Bellamia is the secretary of the Regional White Area Committee, a legal front of the armed wing of the Communist movement, the NPA.
Marquez added that Bellamia was involved in activities geared to raise funds for their armed struggle.
The suspected rebel is also said to be the deputy secretary of the Cebu Island Command and the Front Committee 2 in
According to Marquez, Bellamia was involved in at least five skirmishes involving the 78th Infantry Battalion in the mid-north area from 2002 and 2006 that resulted to the death of soldiers.
Marquez told The Freeman that the captured labor leader is actually a member of the armed wing of the NPA and not just an ordinary labor leader as what he and his family claims he is.
Bellamia is tagged as one of the “masterminds” in the attack at the 78th IB outpost last December 12, 2002 in barangay Kaurasan in Carmen town killing seven soldiers; the encounter with the 78th IB men at barangay Calangaan in Tuburan town last Septermber 17, 2003; the encounter with the same army troopers at barangay Baliang in Danao City last October 11, 2002 , also in the attack at the army outpost in baranay Sumon of Tuburan town in October 2005 that killed five government troopers and the encounter in barangay Dalit in Tabuelan town last year that resulted to the death of NPA leader Gerry Badayos, Marquez said.
“He can’t say he is not an NPA, because he is the one masterminding the killings of our soldiers, duna siya’y upat ka mga kasong murders sa RTC branch 25 but the court infused them into a rebellion case,” Marquez said.
The arrest of Bellamia is considered by the PNP and AFP as ‘big-blow’ to the rebel movement considering the position of the suspect in their organization.
Marquez said, they have received information pertaining to the presence of Bellamia at his house in barangay Casay prompting them to serve the warrants of arrest.
At the time of the arrest, other members of the Bellamia family were also in the same house for a vacation.
Bellamia has denied the accusations in an interview with The Freeman and said that the charges were just made up by the military and the police.
He admitted being an active labor organizers having helped form the labor union in a glass company located at barangay Guadalupe in 1985. From there he also organized other labor unions in various companies.
Bellamia admitted being one of the staff of National Federation of Labor Union (NFLU) and National Federation of Labor (NFL).
But Marquez said, Bellamia was formerly the regional vice chairman of Bayan and Anakbayan.
Bellamia is no longer working for any company, but continues to be involved in helping workers and their labor unions.
Editha, wife of Bellamia told The Freeman that her husband has never been engaged or has been a member of any armed rebel group. She added that he just has a passion for helping workers in their labor union activities.
She said that being a leader of such organization, it could not be avoided that her husband would be mistaken for a rebel leader, but said they are willing to face the charges in court.
“Kasagaran mao naman gyud na ang pasangil nila, pero ang akong nahibaw-an naa ra gyud ni siya (Bellamia) sa labor union organization nasakop,” Editha said.
She also claimed that her husband is one of the advisers of the Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbu (NADSU), a transport organization composed of drivers and operators.
The operation was swift and without so much commotion as Bellamia immediately gave himself up.
He was brought by authorities to the PRO-7 for investigation, but is now detained at the Guadalupe Police Station. — (/NLQ)
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