Acquaintances, old friends, and family of peace consultants are now clear targets of police and military, who have come together in a crackdown against peace consultants and advocates.
After the unlawful arrest of Renante Gamara on March 20, 2019 in Cavite, the police claim to have tracked down an “underground safehouse” in Marikina and proceeded to throw additional charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives against our client.
How utterly preposterous. Gamara was found staying above a coffee shop in the sentro of Imus City, with the police station a stone’s throw away. The house in Marikina, which the police claimed was another hideout, is a family home. Planting firearms and explosives is the police grasping at straws, because there is no legitimate reason to arrest or investigate the persons found therein, nor the peace consultants themselves.
Both army and police officials must temper their braggadocio, not until their competence and intelligence catch up. Remember that the police arrogantly vilified and arrested Fr. Arturo Balagat, a retired priest who graciously gave shelter and food to Gamara in Imus, and also threatened to cancel his cooperatives’ registration and licenses. Eventually, the prosecutor general found him with no criminal intent or ties, and absolved him of charges.
The national task force that arose from Executive Order No. 70 has been very busy picking up those who are not in hiding, those who are sick, defenseless, and unarmed. When Francisco Fernandez and Cleofe Lagtapon, likewise peace consultants, were arrested in Laguna a week ago, the army claimed to have also found them with pistols and grenades – and then, paradoxically, crowed over how weak and vulnerable they were.
Executive Order No. 70 wants to put an end to the roots of the insurgency and reclaim the peace, but why do its implementors spawn more injustice along the way? Long-drawn vendetta, disbalance of power and inequities, as demonstrated in the illegal arrests and detention of peace consultants, only pose more reasons to resist.
We are confident that charges against Gamara, Fernandez, Lagtapon, as well as the others’, replete with planted evidence and perjured testimonies, will be eventually dismissed and disposed of. Veritas vincit – truth always prevails.
*PILC is the retained counsel of peace consultants Renante Gamara, Francisco Fernandez, and Cleofe Lagtapon, who were arrested in March 2019.
For reference: Atty. Rachel F. Pastores
Managing Counsel, PILC
(+63)9279219539