BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO and GLENDA TAYONA
ILOILO City – Operatives of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) raided the house of a former barangay captain of Bolo, Maasin, Iloilo yesterday at 8:50 a.m. They recovered a grenade, a gun holster and a pair of handcuffs.
Herman Alliza was arrested. He, however, denied owning the grenade.
Progressive farmers’ group PAMANGGAS denounced the arrest as part of a government crackdown on activists. Alliza had served as treasurer of the group.
The former barangay captain was being linked, too, to the New People’s Army (NPA) incursion of the Maasin police station in June 2017. The search warrant for his house was issued by Judge Gemalyn Faunillo Tarol of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 31.
A book on the Philippine Revolution was also recovered, according to Police Colonel Roland Vilela, IPPO director.
For PAMANGGAS, however, Alliza’s arrest was “part of the political crackdown” being waged by the Duterte government against critics and progressive organizations with the aim of silencing them.
Cris Chavez, secretary general of PAMANGGAS, said the grenade supposedly found in Alliza’s house was “planted evidence.”
Alliza had served, too, as environment officer of the municipal government of Maasin, he added, and former co-workers could vouch for his integrity.
Police sources claimed Alliza was a “political organizing leader” and “leader of the intelligence team” of the Baloy Platoon under the Central Front Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines – NPA operating in central Panay.
“We are intensifying our campaign against loose firearms and explosives,” said Vilela.
Alliza faces a charge for violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Police sources said he was also one of the John Does charged over the rebels’ raid of the Maasin police station.
On June 18, 2018, a Sunday, between 40 to 50 NPA rebels stormed the police station of Maasin around 10:30 a.m. and disarmed nine police officers.
The daring, broad daylight incursion was swift. Within 15 minutes the rebels shanghaied eight M16 rifles, four Glock .9mm pistols, five handheld radios and their base, two laptops, P29,000 cash, and jewelry.
The rebels did not harm the nine police officers but handcuffed them. They also used the police station’s patrol car to flee.
Before leaving the police station, the rebels distributed statements to residents explaining the raid.
Maasin is some 25 kilometers from Iloilo City. The rebels were long gone when troops from the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) reached the police station.
Witnesses said the rebels fled toward the town of Alimodian.
Charges of direct assault on persons of authority, disturbance of public order, robbery and tumult were filed against the rebels before the provincial prosecutor’s office./PN
