The Philippine Army maintains that its troops have arrested legitimate members of the New People's Army (NPA) during its raid in Morong, Rizal last Feb 6, 2010, as it welcomes the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to look into the allegations of torture and abuse against the Philippine Army.
Five of the 38 were doctors and nurses, including Doctors Mary Clamor and Alexis Montes, who belongs to the National Health Bureau of the NPA, the equivalent of the AFP Medical Corps or Surgeon General. The rest were NPA medics and logistics personnel in charge of treating wounded rebels and procuring medical equipment and paraphernalia and materials for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or man-made bombs.
The Philippine Army thinks it necessary for legitimate health workers associations to speak out because their ranks and good, noble work are tarnished by people who continue to call these NPA medics as health workers. For those who have apprehensions on the existence of NPA medics, the military's claim of their existence was reaffirmed by the capture and surrender of NPA trained medics. Long before the arrest of Morong 38, various incidents manifesting the existence of NPA medics has been accounted by the Philippine Army. There are students, even young professionals being recruited to join the NPA, and are trained as medics.
The organization likewise stresses that the withdrawal of the case against the Morong 38 in the spirit of International Human Rights Day celebration does not undo what they continue to do for the underground movement. Four of them were confirmed to have gone back to the hills with the NPA. Linda Racel R Ontanes and Pearl Irene Martinez were sighted in Rodriguez Rizal last Feb 25, while Janice Javier was sighted by the 730th Combat Group of the Air Force in Balayan, Batangas on March 23.
It can be recalled that five of the 43 arrested admitted to being legitimate members of the NPA, and even renounced their involvement in the rebel group and chose to live a life of peace.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Army welcomes the resolution of the Court Appeals, saying the investigation by the CHR is an opportunity for the Army to bring closure to the issue. The Philippine Army is confident that it will be able to clear its soldiers, and the institution that has been trampled on by issues of torture and abuse.
Philippine Army
