THE Department of Justice has indicted six alleged New People’s Army rebels for murder and terrorism under the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 in connection with the death of a nine-year-old and the injury of a soldier during an encounter in Batangas last year.
In a resolution dated December 27 but made public only yesterday, the DOJ indicted Isagani Isita, Junalice Arante-Isita, Mariano Bico, Gilbert Orr, and two others with aliases Ching/Marcel and Allen/Jane/Daniel.
“After evaluation of the evidence, the panel of prosecutors found sufficient evidence to hold respondents for trial. While it may appear that the murder victim was not the direct target of herein respondents and was just caught in the line of fire when the respondents fired upon members of the Philippine Army, her death clearly was the result of the unlawful acts perpetrated by the respondents,” the DOJ resolution said.
The DOJ said probable cause also existed to indict the respondents for violation of the anti-terrorism act.
“Clearly, respondents’ use of high-powered firearms seriously endangered the lives of members of the Philippine Army and consummated in injury and death,” the DOJ said.
The resolution further said the respondents’ use of high-powered weapons was intended to cause a disproportionate amount of damage or harm of sufficient magnitude.
“The acts of respondents were calculated to seriously undermine public safety and to create an atmosphere of fear,” it added.
The charges were filed before the Batangas Regional Trial Court.
To recall, members of the Delta Company of the Army’s 59th Infantry Battalion were conducting military operations in Sitio Amatong, Barangay Guinhawa in Taysan, Batangas on July 18, 2022 when they were attacked by members of the communist group.
The attack led to the wounding of an Army soldier and the death of the child who resided in the barangay.
The military identified the respondents as part of the NPA team that attacked the soldiers.
It said they belonged to the Sub-Regional Military Area 4C of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee of the communist rebels.
