The Communist Party of the Philippines yesterday joined the Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas and its allied organizations in Negros Occidental in demanding the immediate release of peasant leader Randall Echanis.

CPP spokesman Gregorio Rosal said the arrest and continued detention of Echanis, Angelina Bisuna-Ipong and Elizabeth Principe, all consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines , reflect the Arroyo regime's complete disregard for peace negotiations.

About 30 members of militant groups who staged a picket in front of Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City , yesterday called for the junking of the warrant of arrest against Echanis, and for his immediate release.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director, who held a brief dialog with the picketers, advised to them to direct their demands to the court. If they have complaints against the police who served the arrest warrant to Echanis, they should file charges, he said.

The Philippine Army claimed that Echanis is a member of the CPP Central Committee, and has a pending arrest warrant for multiple murder in Leyte , with exiled CPP leader Jose Maria Sison and Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Satur Ocampo among the respondents.

Military records show that before he was designated as head of the CPP Peasant Committee, Echanis, 60, was the secretary of the Northern Luzon Regional Party Committee from 1977-80 and the Northwest Luzon Regional Party Committee from 1981 to 1983.

Echanis also underwent training abroad, especially in urban partisan operations, the records showed.

KMP-Negros spokesman Mario Tapion had claimed that the arrest of Echanis marks the start of the all-out offensive by the Arroyo regime against its critics and opposition groups.

Echanis is now detained at the Leyte Provincial Jail.*GPB

back to top