Lorenzana says Ladlad arrest “legitimate law enforcement operation”

November 14, 2018

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the arrest of Communist Party of the Philippines official Vicente Ladlad "was a legitimate law enforcement operation conducted by the proper authorities who recovered high-powered firearms and explosives in his possession."

In a statement Wednesday, Lorenzana said "true to form Mrs Fides Lim Ladlad claims they were planted to discredit the Philippine National Police and to exonerate her husband."

"Anyone found violating Philippine laws will be dealt with accordingly. This is now best left to the courts. Mrs. Ladlad should trust in the fairness of our justice system," added Lorenzana.

Lorenzana said Ladlad's wife is wrong when she said her husband's arrest derailed the peace process.

"She is wrong. How can the peace process be derailed when it has been suspended / stopped last June by the President?," said Lorenzana.

"Upon termination of the peace talks, Mr. Ladlad should have turned himself in as his provisional liberty to be part of the NDF negotiating panel as a negotiator had also expired," said Lorenzana.

The military is linking Ladlad to the deaths of New People's Army cadres suspected to be military spies during the CPP-NPA purging of its ranks in Eastern Visayas in the early 80s.

In 2006, soldiers found 67 bodies of alleged NPA cadres in Inopacan City. Ladlad and Adelberto Silva, who was arrested early November in Sta Cruz, Laguna,  were accused with multiple counts of murder before a court.

Lorenzana said the government's "localized peace efforts have achieved far more success in less than a year than the numerous formal talks abroad since the 80’s."

"The Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of the Task Force Balik Loob continues to positively transform the lives of former CPP-NPA and Militia ng Bayan rebels who returned to the folds of the law to rejoin their communities and live normal lives," Lorenzana added. DMS