Central Command will not accept 'rebel leader'

CEBU, Philippines - Despite a court order, officials of Central Command yesterday refused to accept alleged New People’s Army (NPA) leader Ramon Patriarca into their custody.

CentCom commander Maj. Gen. Armando Cunanan explained they did not accept the request of Cebu Provincial Police director Carmelo Valmoria because they do not yet have a detention cell.

He said they have an agreement with the CPPO that they would put up a detention cell that would be funded by the police office.

According to Cunanan, the present stockade of CentCom is not ready for high-risk detainees like Patriarca because it was built for the personnel of CentCom who violate the rules of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The Provincial Planning and Development (PPD) of the CPPO and command engineer of CentCom have already met and talked about the plan to put up a detention cell. Once it is finished, Cunanan said Patriarca could already be transferred there.

CPPO has earlier asked the court to allow it to transfer Patriarca from Danao City Jail to the military facility after hearing persistent reports about plans to rescue the political detainee from his detention cell in the component city.

Cebu Provincial Police director Carmelo Valmoria said the court has already granted the request to transfer Patriarca but the date of transfer would be confidential.

Aside from the reports of rescue, Valmoria said the facility in Danao City is reportedly not fit for a high-risk detainee like Patriarca, as additional police personnel had to be detailed there to augment security.

Valmoria has also earlier admitted that CentCom would have to be prepared, considering that the facility also holds political detainee Jigger Geverola.

Patriarca, believed to be a top leader of the New People’s Army, was arrested last February 5 in barangay Casili, Consolacion in a joint operation by the Armed Forces Central Command and the PNP.

He reportedly operated with four nicknames- Willy, Aking, Duro and Robert, and held five positions as deputy secretary of the armed group Komiteng Rehiyonal- Sentral Bisayas, finance officer, head of the taxation bureau, and secretary while at Negros island.

Patriarca’s arrest was by virtue of a standing warrant issued by Danao City Regional Trial Court Judge Edito Enemecio for rebellion. — Christopher Gabriel Bonjoc and Guam Logroño of Banat News/WAB (THE FREEMAN)