Army sowing fear in north’

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusan Mamamalakaya sa Pilipinas -Negros claimed that members of the Philippine Army are sowing fear among their members in northern Negros by visiting the farmers’ houses and listing down their names.

Pablito Plaza, PAMALAKAYA spokesperson said their members in Barangay Malasibog, Toboso reported that Army men were stationed near the houses of KMP members, making them feel harassed.

He added that some farmers were also told by the Army not to join the KMP or other peasant groups.

In a fact-finding effort conducted early this month, Plaza said some of their members reported that they were being accused by the soldiers of being members of the New People’s Army.

He added that their groups have scheduled a dialog with local officials of Toboso and Escalante.

Plaza added that this form of harassment is a manifestation of the implementation of the Human Security Act.

Earlier, government troopers intensified efforts to pre-empt reported tactical offensives to be launched by rebels in Negros island.

On July 15, patrolling Army’s Scout Rangers clashed with about 20 NPA rebels in Hacienda Caridad, Brgy. E. Lopez, Silay City.

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Parents withdraw charges
vs. alleged illegal recruiters

The parents of the six girls, five of them minors, who were rescued by the police from alleged illegal recruiters in Bacolod City Friday yesterday said that they are not filing charges against the three suspects who hired their children as waitresses for a bar in Tuguegarao, Cagayan province.

Annie Gilaran, 38, of Brgy. Sum-ag, Bacolod City, said that she and the five other parents will not file charges against Danilo Marasigan, Marie Jane Jose, and Marie Granda because they “willingly” consented to have their children hired by them.

“Our children want to work. And we don’t see anything wrong with that because we’re poor. They might as well go with (the recruiters) than roam around doing nothing,” Gilaran said.

Nenita Borcilas, 43, on the other hand, said that she will only file charges against the recruiters if the other parents will do so.

The teenagers, aged 17 and 21, were rescued by the police at about 4 p.m. on July 20 at the Banago Port in Bacolod City while they were already aboard a ship bound for Tuguegarao, the police said.

The police added that a concerned citizen had informed them that the girls were illegally recruited by the three suspects who were arrested during a follow-up operation in a hotel in Bacolod City.

The three, who are now detained at the Police Station 2, refused to comment on their arrest, but welcomed the possibility that the teenagers’ parents will not file charges against them.

Bacolod City Police Office Women and Children’s Concerns chief SPO4 Nemia Cuzon, on the other hand, said that the parents are actually filing charges against the recruiters as they have already executed their affidavits.

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Traffic enforcer probed for gambling

A Bacolod City traffic enforcer who was arrested for alleged illegal gambling violations during a raid on a “gambling den” in Bacolod City late Friday is now facing investigation, the police said.

Bacolod City Police Office Traffic Management Unit chief, Inspector Levy Pangue said that the case of Joemarie Aurelio, 29, of Brgy. Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City, has been referred to the BCPO Human Resource and Legal Departments for investigation.

Aurelio was among the 13 persons arrested by BCPO Intelligence and Investigation Branch operatives in Purok Sigay, Brgy. 2, Bacolod City at about 11:45 p.m. on July 20 for allegedly playing “kara y krus” or “tumbo” which is prohibited under Presidential Decree 1602, police reports said.

Aurelio, who is now detained at the Police Station 2, however, told investigators that he had just passed by the house that the police raided and was not playing with the other suspects.

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