THE National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) yesterday said the two activists who have accused the military of abducting them have opened themselves to a possible perjury case.
NTF-ELCAC spokesman Jonathan Malaya made the statement during a television interview a day after the activists, Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano, recanted their earlier sworn affidavits where they declared they surrendered.
Castro and Tamano executed their affidavits last week after leftist groups alleged the two were abducted by government troops last September 2 in Orion, Bataan.
The two appeared in a press conference organized by the NTF-ELCAC in Plaridel, Bulacan last Tuesday, supposedly to tell the public they indeed surrendered to the military.
To the surprise of NTF-ELCAC officials, Castro and Tamano said they were abducted by Army soldiers and were forced to sign sworn affidavits.
“If it is proven that they executed (affidavits) falsely…they can be open to perjury charges,” said Malaya.
Malaya stressed that Castro and Tamano surrendered to the Army’s 70th Infantry Battalion (IB) through someone named “Ate Bea.” He said the military accepted their surrender and later executed their affidavits in the presence of lawyers.
Malaya said the two also met with personnel from the Public Attorney’s Office and the Commission of Human Rights and local government officials before last Tuesday’s press conference and declared they indeed surrendered.
“They said in their affidavits… they wanted to leave the communist movement, they don’t want this life (with the NPA) anymore, they don’t want to fight against fellow Filipinos, (and) they want a new life. That was the story they peddled to us,” said Malaya.
Malaya said the two laid low in Guagua, Pampanga before surrendering to the military, adding their surrender to the 70th IB was facilitated by “Ate Bea” who Malaya said knew someone from the Army.
“We were hoodwinked. I think this was an operation by the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front),” said Malaya.
Malaya said Castro and Tamano are members of the NPA. Earlier reports said Castro is a community volunteer for Akap Ka Manila Bay, which is opposed to reclamation projects at Manila Bay, while Tamano is a coordinator of the Ecumenical Bishops Forum’s community and church program for Manila Bay.
“They are NPA members, let me state that. Clearly, they are NPA members,” Malaya said.
“Yes, it (actions of Casto and Tamano) was intentional and we were betrayed and we were hoodwinked. But as I said, we are unfazed,” said Malaya, adding the task force learned lessons from the incident.
Malaya said the NTF-ELCAC initially invited Castro and Tamano to appear before a press conference also organized by the task force last Friday in Manila to announce their surrender. He said the two declined, claiming they were not yet ready.
“Over the weekend, they changed their mind. They told the NTF-ELCAC that they were ready to face the public and they will tell the truth (during last Tuesday’s press conference),” said Malaya.
“But, of course, all these (details) are drowned by their alleged revelation. They are spinning this to show that NTF-ELCAC is a sponsor of state terrorism when in fact the reality is it’s not true,” said Malaya.
Army spokesman Col. Xerxes Trinidad said there was no reason for the Army to relieve the commander of the 70th IB, Lt. Col. Jonnel dela Cruz, after his unit was linked to the abduction of Castro and Tamano.
“They followed the process (for the surrender of Castro and Tamano), we have not seen any violation so far. I think there is no reason for the immediate relief but we will be inquiring further on the details,” said Trinidad.
“On the part of the part of the Philippine Army, we did not see any violation committed by the battalion but, of course, we will have to get to the bottom of this and inquire on the details,” said Trinidad.
