PNP chief says they did not illegally raid a house in compound occupied by Kadamay group

July 27, 2020

The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said they did not illegally raid the house of a Kadamay urban poor group member  in Pandi, Bulacan and claimed the group's president surrendered reported subversive documents to the police.

According to Police General Archie Gamboa said Kadamay-Pandi President Lea Maralit with six of their members surrendered the documents to the Pandi police last Sunday.

“Yesterday, I called up (Brig. General Rhodel Sermonia) regional director of Region 3 ( Central Luzon). What he told me is, a day before the alleged confiscation, someone was caught burning materials and he was arrested for violation of quarantine protocols,” Gamboa said in a press briefing.

“The reason why we said surrender is because they are the one who voluntarily said it… what (Sermonia)said is while the police are already getting the materials, photos of them were taken and that is where the raid story started,” he added.

In an earlier statement, Sermonia said Maralit revealed to them her fear that the documents might be used during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Sermonia said the Kadamay group in Pandi has pledged support to the government’s programs of ending the decade’s long insurgency and backing the roadmap of lasting peace in the country.

As for the arrest of Kadamay- Pandi community leader Rose Fortaleza, police said she was seen walking casually without face masks and were holding alleged propaganda materials.

Fortaleza and her companion resisted and tried to elude arrest, police said.

Gamboa suggested to those who are aggrieved over the incident to file a case at PNP- Internal Affairs Service (IAS).

“Now if there are people who are aggrieved, saying it was a raid, then let them file the necessary and appropriate action. I suggest file it with IAS here in national headquarters so that we can deal with it squarely,” he said.

He added the arrest is not related to the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

“Remember under the anti-terrorism act they are executory and non-executory provisions or what we call self-executing that does not need an IRR (implementing rules and regulations) but actually now, even us PNP are not yet aware of the provision that are self-executing under the ATA,” said Gamboa.  Ella Dionisio/DMS