Release of Ka Roger’s daughter lauded

MANILA, Philippines - The Hong Kong chapter of women’s group Gabriela yesterday hailed the release of Andrea Rosal, daughter of the late New People’s Army (NPA) spokesman Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal, who was recently cleared of murder charges.

“We celebrate the release of Rosal for she deserves to be free,” Shiela Tebia, chairman of Gabriela-Hong Kong, said.

“We call for an end to Oplan Bayanihan, which resulted in the increase in the number of political prisoners and acts of violence against women,” she added.

The group lauded the lawyers who fought for Rosal’s release.

“Rosal’s freedom after two years of incarceration proved that there is no truth to the charges against her. She was harassed like other political prisoners,” Tebia said.

Rosal was arrested on March 27, 2014 by military and National Bureau of Investigation personnel in Caloocan City. She was eight months pregnant at the time.

She gave birth to a girl on May 17 but the infant died the following day.

A Pasig court dismissed the murder and kidnapping charges filed against her in June for lack of evidence.

The military maintains that Rosal is a leader of the NPA but said it would respect the court ruling.