The Daily Manila Shimbun

 

Military to help police serve arrest warrants on Sison, others

September 6, 2019



The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is willing to support the Philippine National Police (PNP) in serving arrest warrants to Communist Party of the Philippine (CPP) leader Jose Maria Sison and 37 other members as ordered by a court in Manila.


"We will support the PNP in the serving of warrant of arrest if the need arises with the expressed request from them," said Col. Noel Detoyato, AFP Public Affairs Chief, in an interview with the Daily Manila Shimbun Friday.


Detoyato expressed their support to the law enforcers after a Manila court has ordered the arrest of Sison and the other communist group members.


Warrants of arrest for Sison, his wife Juliet and the 36 other CPP members were issued by Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32 last Aug. 27.


According to the arrest warrant Sison and his co-accused were tagged in the "Inopacan massacre" in Leyte in 1980's.


Detoyato said the armed forces can provide information and the military can help the police to implement the court order.

Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesman, expressed confidence government forces will be able to catch Sison and his co-accused.
 
"As for those who are, like Mr. Sison, outside the country, we may not be able to serve the warrant right away as they are outside our jurisdiction. But we are not without recourse," he said.
 
"We will coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Justice, the International Police and other relevant agencies for the service of the warrant of arrest or other legal recourse available," he noted.
 
"We are sure that the long arm of the law will soon catch up on Mr. Sison and his cohorts," he added.
 
Arevalo emphasized that the AFP is determined to find members of the communist group.
 
"We are elated as the victims’ families are for the issue of arrest warrant by the court against Mr. Jose Ma. Sison, his wife, and 36 others for the mass murder by the NPA of people who were suspected of being government spies that claimed the lives of about 300 residents in Leyte province in a purging activity infamously dubbed by the NPA as “Oplan Venereal Disease” said Arevalo.
 
"This is a crime against humanity. Though it's too early to claim victory, we are happy for the Filipino people—especially for the families of the victims of this heinous crime— because the wheels of justice shall begin to grind," he added. Robina Asido/DMS 

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