Cause-oriented groups optimistic "Zamboangita 3" would be freed

CEBU, Philippines - Militant leaders from student organizations and party-list groups are confident that the three graduates from Cebu City who were arrested last week for alleged involvement with the New People’s Army will be released next week.

Dennis Abarrientos, Secretary General of Karapatan- Central Visayas, said the three students no longer filed their counter-affidavits before the prosecutor in Dumaguete City during the preliminary investigation last Monday.

“Wala na gani gi-present sa mga students ang ilang counter-arguments kay based lang sa mga loopholes ug inconsistencies sa mga military, confident na gyud mi na i-junk sa fiscal ang kaso na ila gi-file against the students,” Abarrientos said.

He said they are confident that the prosecutor’s office will find in favor of the students. The complaint filed by the military is being handled by Prosecutor Elizabeth Bayhon.

Abarrientos said 1st Lt. Ramon Salvador of the 79th Infantry Battalion who led the seven-man team that arrested the students himself said during the preliminary investigation that he did not actually see the three students firing at them last Sunday night.

PFC Angelo Mones, the lead scout of the team, also reportedly said during the preliminary investigation that no single firearm was confiscated from the students during the combat patrol checkpoint.

The students claimed that after they were flagged down during the checkpoint and arrested after they were branded as rebels, the team flagged down other persons and it was then they heard bursts of gunfire.

“So, musukwahi g’yud sa ila gipangkatap na storya na mga rebelde ‘to sila. Basically, wala g’yu’y crime na nabuhat ang mga studyante,” Abarrientos said. He said the soldiers only recovered firearms the following day when they conducted clearing of the site.

Student organizations from Cebu and Dumaguete who also attended the proceedings last Monday wore white T-shirts bearing the words, “Free Zamboangita 3” and “Uphold Human Rights.” They also held a silent protest.

The three, Carla Alvarico of College Editors Guild of the Philippines, Carlo Cabahug of University of San Carlos-Student Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy, and Glen Filamer of the League of Filipino Students were arrested last October 18.

The body of suspected rebel Radin Carpentero of Anakpawis and Kabataan party-list, whom the groups claimed was not a companion of the victims, was already taken to his home in sitio Tayong, barangay Talamban, Cebu City last Monday.

Carpentero was killed during an encounter with members of the 79th IB that day in sitio Pulang Yuta, barangay Mayabon, Zamboangita. – Niña G. Sumacot/JMO (THE FREEMAN)