Philippine communist founder Joma Sison and other CPP-NPA-NDF officials indicted  with multiple charges by CIDG

By Edward Era Barbacena

The PNP-CIDG filed multiple charges  against the leader of the CPP-NPA-NDF founder Joma Sison and other officials of the organization.

This is related to incidents of extortion, arson, illegal recruitment of youths, attacks in Western Visayas and Central Mindanao.

The charges filed against Sison and others are the violation of Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, genocide and other crimes against humanity.

In the testimony of PLtCol. Julius Jacinto, Deputy Regional Chief, Regional Field Unit 6, said the cases were rooted in separate incidents of burning equipment of two companies in Negros Occidental and Antique by members of communist terrorists groups.

Among those indicted in the Antique Provincial Prosecutor's Office are members of Guerilla Front 11 of the NPA, Napoleon Tumagtang Command, Southern Front regional committee-Panay for setting fire to heavy equipment in Hamtic, Antique on June 2, 2018.

Armando Magbanua and six other members of the Negros-Cebu-Bohol-Siquijor regional committee were charged in Bacolod City for burning a farm tractor worth P800,000 after the company refused to pay revolutionary tax.

Meanwhile, based on PLtCol's information. Rogelio Pineda, chief investigation, RFU 12, the CPP-NPA-NDF group is not doing well in Central Mindanao, especially in its blatant recruitment of young people, particularly in communities far from cities and towns.

The police added that deceived minors are being used to hold guns and teach them to strike against the government.

Some of those charged by the PNP are Mack Potenciano or alias Cesar who is one of the cadres that organizes the recruitment of youth in Central Mindanao to turn them into soldiers against the government.

Also included in the charges are Daniel Inday alias Tonton, Rowell Caballes alias Arman, Gary Almeni alias Gary Imaw, Charice Bernarden Banez alias Nicki and Winnie Kikay alias Michael who are all officials of the Southern Mindanao Regional Party Committee who operate in North Cotabato and Bukidnon.

The police believe that even though they cannot fight these NPAs head-on by exchanging bullets and violence, they will instead take their fight through the legal process.

Joma Sison was primarily charged as the leader of the notorious communist terrorist movement in the country CPP-NPA-NDF.

Aside from Joma Sison, Jacinto senior CPP-NPA-NDF officials Luis Jalandoni, Coni Ledesma, Maria Concepcion Araneta Bocala and Porferio Tuna, Jr. are also being charged for their indirect participation in the cases.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist group in the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the Philippines.

According to the PNP, it is only a few and many more officials and members of the movement are planning to face charges due to its illegal activities in different parts of the country.