Victims appeal to military: "Don't release jailed top NPA leader"

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The families of the victims have called on the military not to release the jailed top leader of the New People’s Army yet because he may rejoin his group and get back at them.

Captain Reylan Java, spokesman of the 3rd Infantry Division, said the victims’ families were worried about the possible release of jailed NPA leader Romeo Nanta, after local courts granted him bail of P200,000 for some charges.

The families of Nanta’s alleged victims appealed to the courts not to grant request for bail out of fear for the personal safety and that of their family, Java said.

Nanta, 54, was arrested by joint police and military elements last Nov. 7, 2011 at Brgy. Zone 2 Cadiz City by virtue of arrest warrants for rebellion, robbery-in-band, attempted and frustrated murder issued by three different courts in Negros Occidental.

The military said Nanta, with aliases Juanito Magbanua, Jack Nanta, Juaning, Islao and Kulas, is reportedly the head of the NPA’s Regional Operations Command.

Judge Moises Nifras of the San Carlos City Regional Trial Court denied Nanta’s request for bail for robbery-in-band charges, but Judge Jose Aguirre of the Himamaylan City Regional Trial Court and Judge Victor Magahud of the Ilog-Candoni Municipal Circuit Trial Court recommended P200,000 bail for the charges of rebellion, frustrated murder and attempted murder.

Nanta was implicated in the ambush at Brgy. Salamanca in Toboso town, Negros Occidental on July 13, 2009. Eryl Baynosa, one of the survivors and son of Eriberto Baynosa, former chaiman of that barangay, pointed to Nanta as the leader of the ambush, which resulted in the death of a 14-year-old student and two others.

Nanta was also accused of leading the raid at the 1st Provincial Mobile Group detachment at Escalante City on March 19, 2006; harassment of Villegas Detachment at Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental on April 2006; arson at the Victorias Milling Company and Central Lopez trans-loading station at Toboso town, and the burning of the Globe Telecom cell site at Brgy. Poblacion in Toboso, Negros Occidental.

The list also includes the attack of La Libertad Police Station in Negros Oriental in 2008; raid of ECJ farm at Himamaylan on February 2009; raid of Polopangyan detachment in Toboso on August 10, and the sabotage of VMC pump station in Victorias City on October 2010.

Major General Jose Mabanta, 3rd ID commander, said peace and order situation in Negros Island is now getting better since the arrest of Nanta. “The decision to grant his (Nanta) request for bail lies with the court and we will always uphold the rule of law,” he said.

Java added however that, based on military records, arrested NPA members usually rejoined their group once released by the court.

One case was that of Marilyn Badayos, alyas Eunice/Jonna, top NPA commander operating in southern Negros who was arrested last June 18 in Bacolod City but rejoined her group after her release last Nov. 9. She now remains at large.

Another was Emma Calderon, an NPA member operating in Central Negros who was apprehended in Canlaon City in 2003, later rejoined her group after release but eventually surrendered in 2009.