MANILA, Philippines - Six of the 43 health workers earlier
arrested and tagged as communist rebels have gone back to the mountains
with the New People's Army (NPA), an Army official said.
Col. Ivan Samarita, commander of the Army's 202nd Brigade,
said the six are now serving as political and medical staff of the
rebel group.
They were identified as Janice Javier, Franco Remoroso,
and Yolanda Macaraig operating in Batangas; and Myrna Olarte, Romeo dela
Cruz and Pearl Irene Martinez in Rizal.
"They are really NPAs. They said before they were not NPAs but this proves they are," Samarita told defense reporters.
The 43 health workers were arrested in the mountains of
Morong, Rizal in February 2010, thus earning them the title "Morong 43."
They were accused of being communist rebels, which they vehemently
denied.
Police and military personnel then said they confiscated
several explosive components from the group. However, of the 43
health workers, five have admitted to being NPA rebels and remain under
military custody, while the remaining 38 were eventually released after
the government withdrew charges against them.
"It was really a political decision that we in the Armed
Forces had to abide by because it's the President who ordered it,"
Samarita said.
Last month, eight of the "Morong 43" filed torture charges
against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and several police
and military officials.
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| June 8, 2012 | Article Link
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